Last night at midnight, the Ohio House Speaker announced that another (see also: Cliff Hite) Republican lawmaker was resigning over “inappropriate” behavior, which the Speaker did not characterize. But, according to media reports, the decision came after a complaint was made of “inappropriate sexual activity” that would seem to confirm rumors that have been moving around the Statehouse for some time.
According to the Dispatch:
The speaker’s office is not releasing additional details of the conduct, though it apparently does not involve any Statehouse staffers or other members. Rumors about his conduct, including use of social media, have been swirling at the Statehouse in the past few weeks.
While details have not been publicly released, this anonymous Twitter account says Goodman’s activity may have been caught on video:
Goodman is just the latest in a string of powerful men whose bad behavior is catching up with them. Rumors continue to persist about other high-ranking Republicans in the Statehouse. One media outlet, controlled by powerful Republican lobbyists, has made known it is trying to dig up Speaker Cliff Rosenberger’s expense records (including details of any hotel rooms he may have shared with other Representatives), and that more resignations may be on the way.
In a previous role as staffer to Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan, Goodman brags that he helped draft pro-family policies:
For over six years, Wes served Congressman Jordan and the Fourth District of Ohio, developing and promoting constitutional, fiscally responsible, pro-family policies for the congressman, whom many regard as “the conscience of the conservative movement.”
Women working in the Statehouse recently released a public letter saying that more needs to be done to rein in a culture of bad behavior. Clearly they weren’t wrong.