U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister -- who already announced his resignation on Monday following a video scandal -- refuses to immediately step down from his role in Congress, the Los Angeles Times reported.
McAllister, who won in a special election in Louisiana last November, declines to leave office early despite several GOP officials asking him to because he doesn't want to leave his constituents without representation again.
"He asked me why I would want to put myself through this for the next eight months if I'm not running for reelection. He did ask me to consider resigning, but I respectfully disagree with him and my family is behind my decision," McAllister said in a statement, referring to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor asking him to leave.
After McAllister's statement, Cantor told reporters that after Republicans took control of the House in 2011, they pledged to hold themselves to a high ethical standard, the Times said.
"I told him I thought he should resign because in my mind what happened does not meet that higher standard," Cantor said.
McAllister's chief of staff announced earlier this week that he would not run for re-election in the fall. While his fellow Republicans supported the decision, a majority of them expressed their wish for him to leave sooner.
"While we still believe the best course of action would have been for congressman McAllister to resign so he can focus on his family, we are pleased congressman McAllister and constituents in the district can begin the process of putting this unfortunate situation behind them," Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said in a statement.
Roger Villere, chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, shared Jindal's sentiment and hoped McAllister would "close this chapter sooner" but "was happy to hear of his decision to do what is best for his family and his constituents."
Earlier this month, a video allegedly released by a staffer showed McAllister -- who is married with children and campaigned on his Christian values -- kissing Melissa Peacock, one of his aides.
