There are allegations that Franks retaliated against one of his aides after she turned his offer down. He allegedly ignored her and withheld assignments. US lawmaker Trent Franks quits over 'surrogacy' talks with aides
Both aides “were concerned that Franks was asking to have sexual relations with them.”
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/08/trent-franks-sex-surrogacy-impregnate-287808
$33 million in 2012 according to Open Secrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/net-worth?cid=N00006423&year=2012
If that’s so, five million is a really big chunk of his fortune.
Let’s assume that he’s done well in the market since 2012 and is now worth $50 million. It doesn’t make sense that he’d offer such a big chunk of his net worth, especially when there are legal alternatives that are much cheaper.
No cite, but somewhere in the news cycle I heard that his objection to the usual method of in vitro fertilization is that not all fertilized embryos are used. He’s a ferocious opponent of abortion and believes that life begins at conception.
Also heard that one of his requirements for the contract to bear his child was for the assistant to sign a declaration that she was in love with him.
FWIW, all in the realm of gossip at this point.
No matter what, this is a weird one. No wonder his wife had to be hospitalized and he stepped down immediately.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.