Jefferson, Louisiana Parish President
Mike Yenni admitted in a video to sexting with a 17-year-old male.
Married with a daughter, Yenni, a
40-year-old Republican, admitted in the 1-minute video that he sent
“improper texts to a young man” last summer.
“I made a bad decision,” Yenni
said in the video. “I regret my actions. I apologize to the
families involved and anyone who I embarrassed. Especially my own
family and the people of Jefferson.”
The young man, who is gay and now
attends college, said that he came forward because he found Yenni's
behavior disturbing. He said that Yenni had asked him to work as his
assistant so that they could spend time together without being
questioned.
“I want to reassure the citizens of
Jefferson that I never abused or misused my powers as a public
official,” Yenni said in the video. “And I'm certainly not
afraid of the future, because I'm smart enough to never repeat the
past.”
The FBI has said that it is looking
into the allegations, though 17 is the age of consent in Louisiana.
In one text, Yenni proposed a three-way
with another young man who was 19 at the time.
According to The
Times-Picayune, Yenni has ignored calls for his resignation.
A University of New Orleans poll conducted last week found that 80
percent of Jefferson Parish voters say Yenni should step down.