Vance McAllister explained

Birth Name:Vance Michael McAllister
State:Louisiana
District:5th
Term Start:November 16, 2013
Term End:January 3, 2015
Preceded:Rodney Alexander
Succeeded:Ralph Abraham
Birth Date:January 7, 1974
Birth Place:Oak Grove, West Carroll Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation:Diversified businessman
Alma Mater:University of Louisiana at Monroe
Residence:Swartz, Louisiana
Spouse:Kelly Duncan (m. 1997)
Party:Republican
Children:5

Vance Michael McAllister Sr. (born January 7, 1974) is an American businessman and Republican former member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 5th congressional district. He won a special runoff election held on November 16, 2013, for the seat vacated by fellow Republican Rodney Alexander.

On April 8, 2014, the day after a information about an affair was posted, McAllister said that he planned to run for re-election.[1] On April 28, 2014, he announced that he would serve out his term and not run for re-election.[2] [3] However, he later changed his mind and ran for re-election, for a full term.[4] He did not survive the "top two" primary, receiving 11.1 percent of the vote, and so was not in the runoff election on December 6.

U.S. House of Representatives

Tenure

In June 2014, the non-profit watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington requested that the Department of Justice and House Ethics Committee investigate a published statement from McAllister that an unnamed colleague had told him he would receive a $1,200 contribution from The Heritage Foundation for voting against a measure related to the Bureau of Land Management.[5] McAllister responded that he had not received a donation, which he ascribed to the group being "upset" with him after revelations of his extramarital affair with a staffer. He also said that he had not cast the vote with the expectation of receiving money, but had revealed what was said to him to show how "money controls Washington" and how work in Congress is a "steady cycle of voting for fundraising and money instead of voting for what is right." A spokesman for The Heritage Foundation stated: "we would never do anything like that... we do not [make political donations]. The Heritage Foundation is a think tank and does research and education, but does not get involved with political bills at all."[6]

Committee assignments

Personal life

Extramarital encounter

On April 7, 2014, the Ouachita Citizen newspaper of West Monroe, posted online a copy of a surveillance video from an anonymous source which showed McAllister kissing a staff member in his Monroe district office.[8] The video was recorded in McAllister's Monroe congressional office on December 23, 2013. McAllister's aide Leah Gordon was alleged to have leaked the video to the Ouachita Citizen. Both aides resigned in 2014.[9] [10] Melissa Anne Hixon Peacock was subsequently identified as a married, longtime employee of McAllister.[11] [12]

McAllister made a statement concerning the video: "There's no doubt I've fallen short and I'm asking for forgiveness. I'm asking for forgiveness from God, my wife, my kids, my staff, and my constituents who elected me to serve".[13] Former opponent Republican State Senator Neil Riser said, "I think right now we should be mindful and sensitive to the families who are involved."[13] McAllister's chief of staff, Adam Terry, said that the staff member was fired by the congressman.[14] [15]

The Hill, a Washington, D.C. newspaper, reported on April 9, 2014, that Louisiana Republican Party chairman Roger F. Villere Jr. called for McAllister to resign.[16] One day later Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal issued a similar demand,[17] as did Hammond's Daily Star, a politically nonaligned newspaper editorially.[18]

McAllister found himself being defended by Representative Cedric Richmond, the sole Democrat in Louisiana's U.S. House delegation. Richmond described McAllister's situation as one of the "gotcha moments" in which the political parties have "taken joy in the pain of their supposed opponents". U.S. Representative Bill Cassidy (R–Baton Rouge) urged respect for the McAllister family's privacy and cited the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12).[19]

2017 arrest warrant

On September 27, 2017, a Louisiana judge issued a warrant for McAllister's arrest after he failed to appear for a debt hearing. McAllister had failed previously to appear for other debt hearings and it is claimed he owes $296,000 to one bank and $250,000 to another.[20]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lauren McGaughy . April 8, 2014 . Rep. Vance McAllister plans on running for re-election . April 9, 2014 . Shreveport Times.
  2. Web site: Greg Hilburn . April 28, 2014 . UPDATE: McAllister won't seek re-election, will finish term . April 28, 2014 . The News-Star.
  3. Web site: Mark Ballard . April 29, 2014 . Vance McAllister declares he will not seek re-election . April 29, 2014 . The Advocate.
  4. News: Sullivan . Sean . June 30, 2014 . Embattled Rep. Vance McAllister is running for reelection . July 1, 2014 . The Washington Post.
  5. News: Alpert . Bruce . Watchdog group wants probe into Rep. Vance McAllister's statement of $1,200 donation offered for 'no' vote . . June 16, 2014 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140623001311/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/06/watchdog_group_wants_probe_int.html . June 23, 2014 . June 22, 2014 .
  6. Web site: McAllister admits to vote for contribution. June 6, 2014. The Ouachita Citizen. July 17, 2014.
  7. Web site: Local News - The News Star - thenewsstar.com. The News Star. September 26, 2014.
  8. News: McGaughy . Lauren . 2014-04-08 . Reports: McAllister district manager leaked kissing video, staffer's husband says it 'has wrecked my life' . The Times Picayune . New Orleans . 2023-11-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230807150028/https://www.nola.com/news/politics/reports-mcallister-district-manager-leaked-kissing-video-staffers-husband-says-it-has-wrecked-my-life/article_963cae7a-c716-5191-9a55-7573d37e1746.html . 2023-08-07.
  9. News: Staffer accused of video leak quits. Hammond, Louisiana. Daily Star. 2014-04-17. 2014-04-17. 5A.
  10. Web site: UPDATED: McAllister caught in extramarital encounter, issues apology (video). The Ouachita Citizen. April 7, 2014. April 7, 2014.
  11. News: Voters let down by 'kissing congressman'. Advocate. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 1A, 5A. Jim. Mustian. 2014-04-09. 2014-04-09.
  12. News: April 8, 2014. McAllister district manager leaked kissing video, staffer's husband says it 'has wrecked my life'. New Orleans Times-Picayune. New Orleans, LA. April 8, 2014. Lauren. McGaughy.
  13. Web site: Rep. McAllister asks forgiveness following video of him kissing woman. The Alexandria Town Talk. April 8, 2014. https://archive.today/20140408061236/http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140407/NEWS01/140407023/Rep-McAllister-asks-forgiveness-following-video-him-kissing-woman. April 8, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
  14. Web site: First on CNN: Husband on kissing congressman: 'He has wrecked my life'. Chris. Frates. Curt. Devine. Political ticker. 2014-04-09. 2014-04-09.
  15. News: Despite video scandal, McAllister says he does not intend to resign. Washington Post. April 8, 2014. November 20, 2015.
  16. Web site: Report: GOP Chief thinks McAllister should resign seat, April 9, 2014. Monroe News-Star. April 10, 2014.
  17. News: Jindal, GOP issue calls to resign. Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. 1A, 4A. Jim. Marsha. Mustian. Shuler. 2014-04-11. 2014-04-11.
  18. News: GOP leaders are clear about McAllister. 4A. 2014-04-13. 2014-04-15. Hammond, Louisiana. Sunday Star.
  19. News: Richmond reaches out to McAllister: He admonishes both parties. 2014-04-11. 2014-04-11. Times-Picayune. A3. New Orleans, LA. Bruce. Alpert.
  20. Web site: Eric Garcia . September 28, 2017 . Warrant Issued for Kissing Congressman . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190408120218/https://www.cqpolitics.com/news/politics/warrant-issued-for-former-kissing-congressman . 2019-04-08 . September 28, 2017 . Roll Call.