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Diehl responds to sexting allegations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — House Speaker John Diehl is banking on his fellow Republicans to forgive him for exchanging sexually charged text messages with a college-aged former capitol intern.

Last month, Missouri Southern State University abruptly ended it’s internship program in the capitol, and the handful of legislative interns were removed from their respective offices. The school said at the time that it was an internal matter. But since then, rumors have swirled in the capitol that at least one of the interns may have been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a lawmaker.

Diehl
Diehl

The Kansas City Star reported that they had acquired some screen shots of texts allegedly sent between Diehl and an unnamed MSSU intern. The texts feature the two making evening plans, discussing work, but also flirtatious and overtly sexual exchanges.

“God I want you right now,” one of the texts sent by Diehl reads.

In the Hours following the story, Diehl bunkered down in his office with his staff and held a series of meetings with groups of 5-10 lawmakers at a time. Some members, asking not be identified discussing the meetings, said Diehl was seeking forgiveness from his fellow caucus members and asking for their continued support. Diehl released a written statement in the afternoon before meeting with reporters late into the night after more than a dozen members of the media camped outside his office for hours waiting for Diehl to emerge.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and am truly sorry to those I let down. I apologize for the poor judgment I displayed that put me and those closest to me in this situation. I also regret that the woman has been dragged into this situation. The buck stops here. I ask for forgiveness. I will begin immediately working to restore the trust of those closest to me, and getting back to the important work that is required in the final days of session,” Diehl said in a statement.

Diehl will need the support of his caucus if he wants to weather a petition being circulated by Democratic Rep. Gina Mitten of St. Louis. Mitten told reporters that she didn’t want Diehl removed as a member of the House, but said his conduct reported in the story, if true, warranted his removal from the position of Speaker.

To remove Diehl, a petition demanding he step down must be submitted to the House clerk with at least 82 signatures, a simple majority of members. Mitten said she expected to get all 44 Democrats signed on to her petition, but she’ll still need 38 Republicans in order to remove Diehl from his post.

Several Republican members, including Rep. Tony Dugger and Rep. Nate Walker, told reporters that they respected Diehl and admired his honesty, and that they would not support Diehl resigning his post.

After 11 PM, after hours of remaining in his office, Diehl emerged to very briefly address the press. Diehl told reporters that he did not have a sexual relationship with the intern in question and that his previous statement, “speaks for itself.” Diehl said it was “a stupid thing to do” and declined to speak at length on the issue.