Scott DeJarlais tells radio host 'I know God's forgiven me'

Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), who has refused to leave office in spite of revelations of numerous affairs, including one where he pressured a mistress to have an abortion despite his political opposition to it, defended his position on a conservative radio show Saturday.

According to The Huffington Post, DeJarlais told Ralph Bristol he still considers himself "very solid" in his views.

"I don't think, Ralph, that I implied that there was nothing in my past," DesJarlais said. "I didn't go back and dig up all my personal shortcomings and display them. I went through this divorce a long time ago. I made a very poor decision in my first marriage. I know God's forgiven me."

DesJarlais' divorce records were released by a judge Nov. 5 following reports that he engaged in affairs with patients during his time working as a physician. They showed that, during his divorce proceedings 12 years ago, he testified that he slept with two coworkers, two patients and a representative from a pharmaceutical company. He also told the court he approved of his ex-wife's two abortions before they got married.

Last month, DesJarlais told The Knoxville News-Sentinel that at the time, abortion "was just not something that I put as much thought into as I should have."

DesJarlais won re-election in his district on Nov. 6, garnering 57 percent of the vote. He also told the newspaper he intends to run for at least one more term in office.

Listen to DesJarlais' statements to Ralph Bristol, posted Saturday by The Huffington Post, below.