Ga. (Republican) speaker resigns after lobbyist affair claim

[Ian David]

Source: Associated Press

By SHANNON McCAFFREY (AP) – 4 hours ago

ATLANTA — Georgia's powerful House speaker resigned Thursday after a suicide attempt and allegations by his ex-wife of an affair with a lobbyist.

Glenn Richardson, the state's first GOP speaker since Reconstruction, had won sympathy from even his political enemies when he revealed last month that he attempted suicide by swallowing sleeping pills. But then his ex-wife went on TV and accused him of having "a full-out affair" with a lobbyist while they were still married.

Richardson did not address that allegation in a brief statement issued through the House communications office in which he said he will leave both his position as speaker and his House seat on Jan. 1. He did mention his recent admission, made in the wake of his suicide attempt, that he has grappled with depression.

<snip>

The 49-year-old Richardson, once thought to be a serious contender for governor, had gone right back to shaking hands at chicken-and-grits fundraisers after trying to kill himself. But he had been silent since his ex-wife claimed this week that he slept with a lobbyist pushing a $300 million pipeline bill he was co-sponsoring.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iqu3xuECR-sjSZpzuNRssHo7fs2wD9CC4NP00

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Hat-tip to: http://twitter.com/EileenLeft/status/6326249433


See also:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/03/glenn-richardson-george-h_n_379093.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. Depression sucks.

[PassingFair]

5. Depression is no excuse for this jerk. I believe the wife...here's the interview.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/house_speaker_richardson%27s_ex-wife_talks_113009

snip>

"I don't think it was because he was depressed. I think it was power and control that motivated him to do this," said Richardson.

Richardson said that the people who felt sorry for her ex-husband when they heard the news of his recent suicide attempt didn't know the whole story.

"People wouldn't feel sorry for him if they knew how he truly behaved and what led to this. They wouldn't feel sorry for him," said Richardson."

<unsnip

[Ian David]

7. I don't think it was depression. n/t

[grytpype]

2. How terrible.

[tiny elvis]

3. quid pro sex is not an affair, it is literal and figurative whoring

[groundloop]

4. Well, "whore" is a perfect description of Richardson

He's from my district and he's a slimeball of the highest degree. The only decent thing he's done since being elected is to resign. I'm a bit disappointed in his resignation though, his attempt at reelection would have been the only chance to elect a Democrat and would have been a hell of a soap opera.

His ex-wife's interview on the local news (a Fox affiliate ironically) really told the story. He was corrupt and power hungry, only cared about himself.

[Dappleganger]

6. Getting in bed with a lobbyist, quel surprise!

[gratuitous]

8. Two years in the penalty box, then back in the game

Color me surprised that a Republican had enough of a conscience to resign over such sordid behavior. But he's only 49, so after a couple of years on the sidelines, Richardson will be back into politics, citing a heretofore undetected groundswell of support from people who've forgiven him and who are begging him to return. And if you don't appreciate how much he's grown since his youthful indiscretions as a callow 49-year-old, then you're just a grudge-holding hater who wants to keep the white man down.

[mitchum]

9. Half-assed Richardson needs to take more pills the next time