A married Missouri lawmaker opposed to
gay rights has been caught sexting with a female college freshman who
was working as an intern at the state legislature.
Missouri House Speaker John Diehl, a
Republican, has been praised by conservatives for his opposition to
marriage equality.
Diehl initially declined to comment on
the relationship, but after the Kansas
City Star broke the story on Wednesday, he released a
statement admitting to the relationship.
“I take full responsibility for my
actions and am truly sorry for those I let down,” he said. “I
apologize for the poor judgment I displayed that put me and those
closest to me in this situation. I also regret that the woman has
been dragged into this situation. The buck stops here. I ask for
forgiveness. I will begin immediately working to restore the trust
of those closest to me, and getting back to the important work that
is required in the final days of session.”
Diehl has been praised by the Missouri
Family Policy Council, an affiliate of the Family Research Council
(FRC), for filing an amicus brief in defense of Missouri's
constitutional amendment defining marriage as a heterosexual union.
The group lauded the speaker “for
demonstrating moral leadership and true integrity in standing up for
he sacred institution of marriage and the family values of the people
of Missouri.”
In 2012, Diehl co-sponsored a bill that
sought to prohibit students from forming Gay-Straight Alliances in
public schools.
Diehl and his wife are raising three
sons.