Rep. Barney Frank to retire, closing long career

WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts does not intend to seek re-election in 2012, his office said Monday, closing out a career of more than three decades in Congress capped by last year's passage of legislation imposing new regulations on Wall Street.

Frank, 71 and a lifelong liberal, won a House seat in 1980 was one of the first lawmakers to announce that he is gay.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. applauds at the Interior Department in Washington, on Dec. 22. Frank's office says he won't seek re-election in 2012.

He scheduled an early a...