This makes me really sad: State Senator Faces Lewd Conduct Allegations

[cali]

BURLINGTON, Vt. - WPTZ.com

A longtime state lawmaker and current candidate for Vermont lieutenant governor has been accused of masturbating in the locker room at the Burlington YMCA.

The claims, unearthed by Seven Days columnist Shay Totten, come from YMCA patron Tiki Archambeau, who told News Channel 5, he saw Sen. Ed Flanagan masturbating on a bench in the men's wellness center -- an adults-only area of the YMCA locker room.


Archambeau said he and another patron saw Flanagan masturbating Friday on a bench between the YMCA sauna and nearby showers.

"Frankly I'm kind of offended at seeing that in the Y. I don't think that's right," said Archambeau.

According to Flanagan, the accusation is completely false and on Wednesday, he dismissed the claim but did offer an apology.

"If I did anything to offend anybody, I'm very sorry," said Flanagan.

<snip>
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32201629/ns/local_news-plattsburghburlington_nyvt/

Here's some background. Ed Flanagan was the first openly gay individual in the U.S. elected to statewide office. He's a great guy. What the article doesn't mention is that Flanagan has a traumatic brain injury. He suffered a horrendous car accident a few years back and spent 6 months in the hospital. His car went off the highway near Burlington in winter and landed in a ravine. He spent 18 hours suspended upside down, unconsious, in freezing weather, before he was found.

There have been reports for some time about his bizarre behavior, but this looks to be a real career killer. I hope it's not true.