Minn. Rep. Kerry Gauthier announced this afternoon that he would not seek re-election to House District 7B after reports of a sex scandal involving a 17-year-old boy became public.
BREAKING: Rep. Kerry Gauthier confirms to 5 Eyewitness News he WILL NOT run for re-election.
— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) August 22, 2012
Rep. Gauthier says he will now withdraw from the House 7B race. http://t.co/TH0AFxog
— FOX 21 News (@KQDS_FOX21) August 22, 2012
While the furor over U.S. Rep. Todd Akins’ “legitimate rape” comments dominated news coverage, Gauthier’s story flew quietly under media radar until it was picked up by the U.K. Daily Mail and spread by Twitter users citing a media double-standard.
https://twitter.com/PimpingPolitics/status/238407155659706368
Don't agree w/ Todd Akin at all, but what's worse, what he said or what MN Dem Kerry Gauthier did? http://t.co/M2xI9Kez @secupp @AnnCoulter
— KT™ (@kmtgod) August 22, 2012
So, the Dems have Pelosi, Reid, Biden, Obama, Holder, Weiner, Wasserman, and Gauthier. Are you kidding me? The Dems are talking smack??
— Truth Seeker (@tisaboutfreedom) August 22, 2012
https://twitter.com/POLITICALIAN/status/238399272607948800
https://twitter.com/BeersnobBill/status/238409313490710529
Police called to a Duluth-area rest stop July 22 found Gauthier, 56, engaged in oral sex with a 17-year-old boy whom he’d arranged to meet via Craigslist. No charges were filed, but state Democrats urged Gauthier to step down for the good of the party.
“I have reconsidered and I am withdrawing from the race. That’s my statement,” Gauthier told reporters today. Gauthier did not say he would resign, however.
Rep. Gauthier makes the right decision not to seek re-election. He still should resign.
— Pat Shortridge (@ChairmanMngop) August 22, 2012
Now resign. RT @duluthnews: Rep. Kerry Gauthier says he’s withdrawing from Minnesota House race #mnleg http://t.co/dwEa39Xu
— eric (@eriContrarian) August 22, 2012
Democrat Minority Leader Paul Thissen, among those calling for Gauthier to step aside, called the withdrawal from the race “an end to an unfortunate chapter.”
House DFL Minority Leader Paul Thissen says Gauthier decision to withdraw "brings to an end an unfortunate chapter."
— Tim Pugmire (@timpugmire) August 22, 2012
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