A decade before calling himself "a consistent supporter of pro-life values," Tennessee physician and Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais supported his ex-wife's decision to get two abortions before their marriage, according to the congressman's sworn testimony during his divorce trial.

Obtained by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the couple's 2001 trial transcript also confirms DesJarlais had sexual relationships with at least two patients, three coworkers and a drug representative while he was chief of staff at Grandview Medical Center in Jasper, Tenn. During one affair with a female patient, DesJarlais prescribed her drugs, gave her an $875 watch and bought her a plane ticket to Las Vegas, records show.

With the congressman remaining silent on Thursday, the outcome of the new revelations on his tenure in Congress remains unclear.

With the election in the rearview mirror, a resignation and ensuing special election is unlikely to result in a lost Republican seat in the House because of strong GOP leanings in the district. 

Dr. Bruce Oppenheimer, professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University, said that because none of the facts regarding the congressman's past took place when he was actually a member of Congress, he would unlikely be the subject of a House-level investigation or ethics hearing.

"After last Tuesday, they don't have to worry about a Democrat winning that race," Oppenheimer said. "My sense is this suggests DesJarlais has not been totally forthcoming with voters, either two years ago or now, and that people's private and public lives are often two different things. Since all this occurred before he got to the House, there's no way the House could investigate him for things he did when he wasn't a member. The only recourse is within the Republican Party or with other people trying to get him to resign."

 Click Here For More From James Harrison

 The thing that strikes me most about this map is that for all of the "rural areas are growing more and more Republican" rhetoric coming out of this election, there are a lot of blue dots out in the country, even in our state.

Click Here To See The Map And Read Betsy Phillips Commentary

As predicted here and telegraphed by E.W. Scripps management here, KNS editor Jack McElroy says today that the KNS is going behind a paywall.

They are conceding that the CPM online advertising model doesn't work for newspapers (or blogs, either, for that matter). When asked point blank about $20/CPM rates advertised by the KNS, publisher Patrick Birmingham told me to my face that sure, they get those rates. I didn't believe him then, and I don't believe it now. This seems to confirm it. Not that $20/CPMs would pay for the big metal shed on the hill anyway.