Jefferson, Louisiana Parish President
Mike Yenni is denying he's gay even as he admits to elements of a
story that he had a relationship with a male teen.
Married with a daughter, Yenni, a
40-year-old Republican, admitted in a 1-minute video released in
October that he sent “improper texts to a young man” last summer.
In one text, Yenni reportedly proposed
a three-way with another young man who was 19 at the time.
The teen, 17 at the time, revealed
details about the relationship in a
blog post in January, where he claimed that Yenni bought him sexy
underwear for him to model in a mall bathroom.
“I can't explain why I did it,”
Yenni told New
Orleans' Fox 8 News.
In the interview, Yenni admitted to
exchanging illicit text messages with the teen, but would not deny
that they shared a kiss. He also reminded viewers that the age of
consent in Louisiana is 17, calling the teen a “consenting adult.”
When asked why he became involved with
the teen, Yenni answered that he could not explain his actions.
“I can't … I really can't answer
it,” he said. “I mean, it was just … it was a stupid action.
It was a stupid action to even get into this form of text messaging.
It was something … something that I can't explain why I did it.”
Yenni also lashed out at his critics
who are calling for him to step down.
“Like, in other words, what [attorney
Robert Evans is] trying to say in his pleadings, 'He's a pedophile.
He is an admitted homosexual.' And that is not true. I've never
admitted that. It doesn't define me, either.”
“What do you mean it doesn't define
you?”
“I'm not gay,” Yenni answered.