NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 12, 2012)—U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., in his first public comments since reports he once urged a mistress to get an abortion, says that the woman turned out not to be pregnant.

The freshman congressman hasn't disputed a transcript of a recorded phone conversation in which he appears to urge the woman to terminate the pregnancy, but DesJarlais told WTN-FM that there was no pregnancy and no abortion.

He said the conversation came during a difficult time, as his marriage was ending, in 1999 and 2000.

On his website DesJarlais espouses a platform that opposes abortion.

His opponent in the congressional race, Democratic state Sen. Eric Stewart, says DesJarlais has "proven over and over again that he cannot be trusted."