House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) allegedly announced to House Republicans Friday that he will retire from Congress at the end of October, reported Politico. The move comes as he faces increasing hardline conservative opposition.

Because of former Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor losing his seat last year, Boehner felt it necessary to continue his tenure in the House even though he had already intended to resign, according to a statement from Boehner's office.

"The Speaker believes putting members through prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution," his office said in a statement posted by a source on Twitter.

Boehner was first elected to Congress in 1990 and has served as speaker since 2011. 

The resignation annoucement comes amid rumblings of a conservative coup, according to the source.

Some say that this explains his actions as of late, such as his alleged "thumb-twiddling" during the Pope's address Wednesday in D.C.

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