And in anther scandal rocking Republican circles, a leading opponent of gay marriage has resigned as head of one of the nation’s largest evangelical groups over allegations he routinely paid for sex with a male escort. Reverend Ted Haggard heads both the 30-million member National Association of Evangelicals and the New Life Church. His accuser, Denver resident Mike Jones, says he came forward after hearing Haggard was leading a public campaign against gay marriage. Jones says Haggard paid him for sex nearly every month over three years and regularly snorted methamphetamine before their encounters. Jones says he has voice mail messages from Haggard and an envelope Haggard used to pay him. A pastor at the New Life Church told a Denver television station Haggard has admitted to some of the allegations. The news comes as voters in Colorado and seven other states are set to vote Tuesday on ballot amendments banning gay marriage.
GOP Rep. Pays $500,000 to Ex-Lover Who Claimed Abuse
The Associated Press is reporting new details in the domestic abuse case of Republican Congressmember Don Sherwood. Last year, it was revealed Sherwood had an extra-marital affair with a woman who accused him of beating her. A source close to the case now says Sherwood has reached a $500,000 dollar settlement that would pay his ex-lover more than half the total until after the mid-term elections. The woman – Cythnia Ore – would be forced to forfeit some of the money if she speaks publicly about the case. Sherwood is known as a “family values conservative” and is currently locked in a tight race for re-election.