T1B

Mark Souder to resign after affair

By Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake

Indiana congressman Mark Souder (R) will resign his seat after an affair with a staffer came to light, he said in a statement this morning.

"It is with great regret I announce that I am resigning from the U.S. House of Representatives as well as resigning as the Republican nominee for Congress in this fall's election," said Souder.

"I sinned against God, my wife and my family by having a mutual relationship with a part time member of my staff," added Souder. "I am so shamed to have hurt those I love."

(Souder's full resignation statement is after the jump.)

The news was first reported by Fox News Channel.

The revelations regarding Souder come two weeks after he survived a serious primary challenge from car dealer Bob Thomas who spent considerable sums of his own money on the race. Souder won the primary with less than 50 percent of the vote.

How Souder will be replaced on the ballot remains to be seen. State law allows Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) wide leeway in whether or not to call a special election and in the immediate aftermath of the resignation Republicans said it was unlikely there would be any vote before November.

Within 30 days of the Souder vacancy -- and he has said he will resign officially on Friday -- the precinct chairmen and women of the counties in his district must gather to select a replacement. One named being bandied about is state Sen. Marlin Stutzman who ran unsuccessfully for Senate earlier this month.

Souder joins a succession of Members of Congress embroiled in sex scandals in recent years, including Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.), Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). Massa resigned, while Ensign and Vitter are still serving in the Senate.

Souder was elected in the GOP wave election of 1994. He represents the Fort Wayne area in northeast Indiana.

Democrats this month nominated Tom Hayhurst. Hayhurst, a repeat candidate, held Souder to 54 percent of the vote in their 2006 matchup.

Souder resignation statement

IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET I ANNOUNCE THAT I AM RESIGNING FROM THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL AS RESIGNING AS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR CONGRESS IN THIS FALL'S ELECTION.I BELIEVE IT IS THE BEST DECISION FOR MY FAMILY, THE PEOPLE OF NORTHEAST INDIANA, AND OUR COUNTRY. I WILL SUBMIT MY RESIGNATION TO SPEAKER PELOSI EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY. I CAN NEVER FULLY THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD, GIVEN SO MUCH AND SUPPORTED ME THROUGH EIGHT CONTESTED PRIMARIES AND EIGHT GENERAL ELECTIONS.ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN THE RECIPIENT CAN YOU REALLY FEEL THE HUMBLING POWER OF SUCH GENEROSITY. IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THE BATTLE FOR FREEDOM AND THE VALUES WE SHARE.IT HAS BEEN A GREAT HONOR TO FIGHT FOR THE NEEDS, THE JOBS, AND THE FUTURE OF THIS REGION WHERE MY FAMILY HAS LIVED FOR OVER 160 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN ALL CONSUMING FOR ME TO DO THIS JOB WELL, ESPECIALLY IN A DISTRICT WITH COSTLY, COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS EVERY TWO YEARS I DO NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF "NORMAL" LIFE - FOR FAMILY, FOR FRIENDS, FOR CHURCH, FOR COMMUNITY.TO SERVE HAS BEEN A BLESSING AND A RESPONSIBILITY GIVEN FROM GOD.I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER EXAMPLE. I SINNED AGAINST GOD, MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY BY HAVING A MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A PART-TIME MEMBER OF MY STAFF.IN THE POISONOUS ENVIRONMENT OF WASHINGTON DC, ANY PERSONAL FAILING IS SEIZED UPON, OFTEN TWISTED, FOR POLITICAL GAIN. I AM RESIGNING RATHER THAN TO PUT MY FAMILY THROUGH THAT PAINFUL, DRAWN-OUT PROCESS.DIANE AND MY FAMILY WERE MORE THAN WILLING TO STAND HERE WITH ME. WE ARE A COMMITTED FAMILY. BUT THE ERROR IS MINE AND I SHOULD BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY, NOT ONLY AM I THANKFUL FOR A LOVING FAMILY BUT FOR A LOVING GOD. MY COMFORT IS THAT GOD IS A GRACIOUS AND FORGIVING GOD TO THOSE WHO SINCERELY SEEK HIS FORGIVENESS AS I DO. BUT I AM SO ASHAMED TO HAVE HURT THOSE I LOVE.I AM SO SORRY TO HAVE LET SO MANY FRIENDS DOWN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR ME. THE IDEAS WE ADVOCATE ARE STILL JUST AND RIGHT.AMERICA WILL SURVIVE AND THRIVE WHEN ANCHORED IN THOSE VALUES.HUMAN BEINGS, LIKE ME, WILL FAIL, BUT OUR CAUSE IS GREATER THAN INDIVIDUALS.IT IS BASED UPON ETERNAL TRUTHS.BY STEPPING ASIDE, MY MISTAKE CANNOT BE USED AS A POLITICAL FOOTBALL IN A PARTISAN ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE CAUSE FOR WHICH I HAVE LABORED ALL MY ADULT LIFE.I LOVE THIS AREA.THIS IS MY HOME.IT HAS BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO SERVE YOU.FOR SIXTEEN YEARS, MY FAMILY AND I HAVE GIVEN OUR ALL FOR THIS AREA. THE TOLL HAS BEEN HIGH.AS I LEAVE PUBLIC OFFICE, MY PLANS ARE FOCUSED UPON REPAIRING MY MARRIAGE, EARNING BACK THE TRUST OF MY FAMILY AND MY COMMUNITY, AND RENEWING MY WALK WITH MY LORD. I HUMBLY ASK YOU, FOR THE SAKE OF MY FAMILY THAT YOU RESPECT OUR PRIVACY IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

Screw_Michigan wrote: I just called his office

"I sinned against God..."

OCmike wrote:From his statement, it sounds like he was on the road constantly, grew apart from his OL, grew closer to a chick in the office and porked her repeatedly. Happens all the time and he pretty much totally owned it.

Screw_Michigan wrote:Because I knew the phones would be ringing off the hook.

Screw_Michigan wrote:

OCmike wrote:From his statement, it sounds like he was on the road constantly, grew apart from his OL, grew closer to a chick in the office and porked her repeatedly. Happens all the time and he pretty much totally owned it.

How'd you get that idea? #1 he never said anything about the typical "road" life (Vern Ehlers thinks Souder's a piece of shit, BTW) and #2 he wrote that whole statement doing nothing but NOT owning it!

Screw_Michigan wrote:

OCmike wrote:From his statement, it sounds like he was on the road constantly, grew apart from his OL, grew closer to a chick in the office and porked her repeatedly. Happens all the time and he pretty much totally owned it.

How'd you get that idea? #1 he never said anything about the typical "road" life (Vern Ehlers thinks Souder's a piece of shit, BTW)

IT HAS BEEN ALL CONSUMING FOR ME TO DO THIS JOB WELL, ESPECIALLY IN A DISTRICT WITH COSTLY, COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS EVERY TWO YEARS I DO NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF "NORMAL" LIFE - FOR FAMILY, FOR FRIENDS, FOR CHURCH, FOR COMMUNITY.

and #2 he wrote that whole statement doing nothing but NOT owning it!

...I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER EXAMPLE.
...I SINNED AGAINST GOD, MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY
...PERSONAL FAILING
...THE ERROR IS MINE AND I SHOULD BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY
...BUT I AM SO ASHAMED TO HAVE HURT THOSE I LOVE.
...I AM SO SORRY TO HAVE LET SO MANY FRIENDS DOWN
...HUMAN BEINGS, LIKE ME, WILL FAIL,
...MY MISTAKE

Goober McTuber wrote:Maybe I missed it, but did it really say anywhere in all of that that the staffer is a female? Just wondering if this is the average Republican shitstain, or a heterosexual one.

Sirfindafold wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:Maybe I missed it, but did it really say anywhere in all of that that the staffer is a female? Just wondering if this is the average Republican shitstain, or a heterosexual one.

Sorry fag, but this guy likes females. Better luck next time.

Goober McTuber wrote:Maybe I missed it, but did it really say anywhere in all of that that the staffer is a female? Just wondering if this is the average Republican shitstain, or a heterosexual one.

Sirfindafold wrote: Sorry fag, but this guy likes females.

IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET I ANNOUNCE THAT I AM RESIGNING FROM THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL AS RESIGNING AS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR CONGRESS IN THIS FALL'S ELECTION.I BELIEVE IT IS THE BEST DECISION FOR MY FAMILY, THE PEOPLE OF NORTHEAST INDIANA, AND OUR COUNTRY. I WILL SUBMIT MY RESIGNATION TO SPEAKER PELOSI EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY. I CAN NEVER FULLY THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD, GIVEN SO MUCH AND SUPPORTED ME THROUGH EIGHT CONTESTED PRIMARIES AND EIGHT GENERAL ELECTIONS.ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN THE RECIPIENT CAN YOU REALLY FEEL THE HUMBLING POWER OF SUCH GENEROSITY. IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THE BATTLE FOR FREEDOM AND THE VALUES WE SHARE.IT HAS BEEN A GREAT HONOR TO FIGHT FOR THE NEEDS, THE JOBS, AND THE FUTURE OF THIS REGION WHERE MY FAMILY HAS LIVED FOR OVER 160 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN ALL CONSUMING FOR ME TO DO THIS JOB WELL, ESPECIALLY IN A DISTRICT WITH COSTLY, COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS EVERY TWO YEARS I DO NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF "NORMAL" LIFE - FOR FAMILY, FOR FRIENDS, FOR CHURCH, FOR COMMUNITY.TO SERVE HAS BEEN A BLESSING AND A RESPONSIBILITY GIVEN FROM GOD.I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER EXAMPLE. I SINNED AGAINST GOD, MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY BY HAVING A MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A PART-TIME MEMBER OF MY STAFF.IN THE POISONOUS ENVIRONMENT OF WASHINGTON DC, ANY PERSONAL FAILING IS SEIZED UPON, OFTEN TWISTED, FOR POLITICAL GAIN. I AM RESIGNING RATHER THAN TO PUT MY FAMILY THROUGH THAT PAINFUL, DRAWN-OUT PROCESS.DIANE AND MY FAMILY WERE MORE THAN WILLING TO STAND HERE WITH ME. WE ARE A COMMITTED FAMILY. BUT THE ERROR IS MINE AND I SHOULD BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY, NOT ONLY AM I THANKFUL FOR A LOVING FAMILY BUT FOR A LOVING GOD. MY COMFORT IS THAT GOD IS A GRACIOUS AND FORGIVING GOD TO THOSE WHO SINCERELY SEEK HIS FORGIVENESS AS I DO. BUT I AM SO ASHAMED TO HAVE HURT THOSE I LOVE.I AM SO SORRY TO HAVE LET SO MANY FRIENDS DOWN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR ME. THE IDEAS WE ADVOCATE ARE STILL JUST AND RIGHT.AMERICA WILL SURVIVE AND THRIVE WHEN ANCHORED IN THOSE VALUES.HUMAN BEINGS, LIKE ME, WILL FAIL, BUT OUR CAUSE IS GREATER THAN INDIVIDUALS.IT IS BASED UPON ETERNAL TRUTHS.BY STEPPING ASIDE, MY MISTAKE CANNOT BE USED AS A POLITICAL FOOTBALL IN A PARTISAN ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE CAUSE FOR WHICH I HAVE LABORED ALL MY ADULT LIFE.I LOVE THIS AREA.THIS IS MY HOME.IT HAS BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO SERVE YOU.FOR SIXTEEN YEARS, MY FAMILY AND I HAVE GIVEN OUR ALL FOR THIS AREA. THE TOLL HAS BEEN HIGH.AS I LEAVE PUBLIC OFFICE, MY PLANS ARE FOCUSED UPON REPAIRING MY MARRIAGE, EARNING BACK THE TRUST OF MY FAMILY AND MY COMMUNITY, AND RENEWING MY WALK WITH MY LORD. I HUMBLY ASK YOU, FOR THE SAKE OF MY FAMILY THAT YOU RESPECT OUR PRIVACY IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

OCmike wrote:...HUMAN BEINGS, LIKE ME, WILL FAIL

He isn't even finishing out his term, he's resigning right away.

Though he clearly fucked up in the worst way, clearly his family and friends are more important to him than hobknobbing at DC cocktail parties and eating bacon-wrapped filets on the taxpayer dime for dinner every night.

Instead of bashing a guy who fully came correct simply because he has an "R" next to his name, your time would be better served asking why your beloved Democrats continue to borrow money from China, our biggest military rival, when we have no means of paying it back.

Screw_Michigan wrote:

OCmike wrote:...HUMAN BEINGS, LIKE ME, WILL FAIL

Yeah, that's pretty much the opposite of owning up to it. Instead of simply saying "I FUCKED UP" he says "WE ALL FUCK UP." Why do you try to read between the lines when there's nothing to read there? Face facts, jerkoff.

Great call. Instead of simply saying "Mark Souder is a piece of shit" you flail and spin

Have another manic breakdown.

LTS TRN 2 wrote:If it's possible to less "Christian" in spirit than revoking a youngsters student loan privileges because he or she was caught with pot, let's see it.

LTS TRN 2 wrote:First of all, let's rack the Christer hypocrite for his taste in tail. Tracy Jackson is officially eighteen times hotter than Monica Lewinsky. Next, let's forget his natural human behavior at wanting to fuck this hottie--and similarly his drive and manipulation of his power of office to attain said tail Rather, the focus of his fall, the real guts of his foul stinking life, are the insane drug laws this lunatic has championed ever since he wormed his way into office. If it's possible to less "Christian" in spirit than revoking a youngsters student loan privileges because he or she was caught with pot, let's see it.

Python wrote:

Screw_Michigan wrote: I just called his office

Why?

mvscal wrote:

Python wrote:

Screw_Michigan wrote: I just called his office

Why?

Just checking to see if there were any spills or stains that might require mopping.

Python wrote:

Screw_Michigan wrote:Because I knew the phones would be ringing off the hook.

So you called because you knew the phones would be busy at his office? Sounds kind of childish, like making prank calls in the middle of the night.

War Wagon wrote:

Python wrote:

Screw_Michigan wrote:Because I knew the phones would be ringing off the hook.

So you called because you knew the phones would be busy at his office? Sounds kind of childish, like making prank calls in the middle of the night.

Step aside, Py, I'll handle this....

War Wagon wrote:
Step aside, Py, I'll handle this....

Conservative Women's Group: Souder Affair Shows 'It Could Happen To Anyone'

Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) conducted a years-long extramarital affair with a staffer while preaching traditional family values, sponsoring a "Marriage Protection Amendment" to the Constitution, and even filming a pro-abstinence video with his girlfriend.

But it turns out Souder had no agency in the matter after all, according to the president of a leading conservative women's group.

"Those of us who have worked with Mark over the years know him to be a kind and thoughtful legislator. If Mark Souder is capable of sexual misconduct, it could happen to anyone," said Concerned Women for America CEO Penny Nance in a statement Tuesday. "The frat house environment on Capitol Hill does nothing to encourage accountability."

The rest is here.

(h/t Weigel)

Late Update: Somehow we missed this earlier, but Nance also explains the happening of the affair by noting the lack of office door windows on Capitol Hill:

"Most Members do not live with their families while they are working in D.C. during the week and have even ditched common rules of etiquette that even major corporations follow such as office doors with windows or careful examination of employee/boss interaction."

Tom In VA wrote:For human beings, males especially, pussy is the most powerful natural resource there is.

Plain and simple. They're right.

Screw_Michigan wrote:He could probably move to Alabamer and get elected there no sweat.