Wes Goodman, a Republican state legislator in Ohio, made a name for himself with hardline anti-LGBT ideas and his resolute Christian values. That all came tumbling down for him this week, as the married lawmaker was caught cheating on his wife.
In his office.
With a man.
Goodman regularly campaigned on “family values,” and his wife is an organizer for the anti-abortion “March for Life” rally.
After an observer reportedly witnessed Goodman’s inappropriate conduct on Tuesday and reported it to Ohio House Chief of Staff Mike Dittoe. Dittoe moved up the chain of command to House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, who then spoke to Goodman.
Goodman resigned his position almost immediately after meeting with Rosenberger.
The Independent reports that Goodman’s campaign website, which has since been taken offline, contained the following statement:
“Healthy, vibrant, thriving, values-driven families are the source of Ohio’s proud history and the key to Ohio’s future greatness … The ideals of a loving father and mother, a committed natural marriage, and a caring community are well worth pursuing and protecting.”
Goodman worked for US Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) prior to running for office himself. Jordan is also extremely conservative and has supported a number of anti-LGBT laws. LGBT advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign named Jordan to their Hall of Shame in 2014 for positioning himself against marriage equality in Washington DC.
Goodman has since taken his campaign website offline and made his social media profiles private. He released the following statement after his resignation:
“We all bring our own struggles and our own trials into public life. That has been true for me, and I sincerely regret that my actions and choices have kept me from serving my constituents and our state in a way that reflects the best ideals of public service. For those whom I have let down, I’m sorry. As I move onto the next chapter of my life, I sincerely ask for privacy for myself, my family, and my friends.”
Watch the Columbus NBC affiliate report on Goodman’s resignation below:
Featured image via YouTube screen capture.
