Missouri House speaker resigns after intern text messages

Missouri House Speaker John Diehl said Thursday he is resigning from the legislature after acknowledging he exchanged sexually suggestive text messages with a college student serving as a Capitol intern.

His resignation comes as the legislature wraps up its session today, according to The Associated Press.

Diehl is both stepping down as House speaker and as an elected Republican represenative from suburban St. Louis.

Diehl acknowledged "making a serious error in judgment by sending the text messages" to the intern, who no longer works at the Capitol.

"I'm going to do what's best for the (House) body and the (Republican) caucus, and step aside out of my office," Diehl said in an interview with The Associated Press and reporters from three other media outlets.

House Republicans met Thursday night to select Diehl's successor, House Majority Leader Todd Richardson.

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