After casting his vote to criminalize abortions performed after 20 weeks, Rep. Tim Murphy is moving on to the "next phase of his life," as Paul Ryan put it.

Murphy is resigning his seat in Congress effective October 21. Just yesterday he announced his intention to retire at the end of this term, but Ryan seems content to let him go sooner.

After all, he's cast the abortion vote they wanted so badly, even after urging his mistress to get an abortion rather than confess his affair to his wife. Republicans have what they want, so now they can tamp the scandal down.

“It was Dr. Murphy’s decision to move on to the next chapter of his life, and I support it,” Ryan said in a statement. “We thank him for his many years of tireless work on mental health issues here in Congress and his service to the country as a naval reserve officer.”

“I’ve spoken with Tim quite a bit last couple of days,” he said. “I think it’s appropriate that he moves on to the next chapter of his life. And I think he agrees with that.”

As if Paul Ryan or any Republican actually gives a damn about Congressmen having affairs or even urging their girlfriends to get abortions. If they did, Scott DeJarlais would have been cast out ages ago. There must have been more skeletons in Murphy's closet.