House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said Tuesday that Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) made the right decision to retire at the end of this year, though he denied personally asking the beleaguered lawmaker to step down.

“Yes,” Blunt replied when asked if it was a good decision by Fossella to retire following his recently revealed love affair with a retired Air Force official.

“I hope it’s the right decision for him and his family,” Blunt said.

Asked if GOP leaders told Fossella to step down, Blunt paused and said, “I didn’t.”

“In my view, this was a decision he would reach on his own.”

— Jennifer Bendery