Ohio GOP State Rep. Wes Goodman, who consistently touted his faith and conservative values, resigned late Tuesday after being confronted with evidence of inappropriate sexual conduct with another man inside his Riffe Center office.
House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, , met Tuesday afternoon with Goodman soon after the speaker became aware of an incident from weeks ago in the lawmaker’s office that, sources said, involved a male in a consensual situation.
“I was alerted to details yesterday afternoon regarding his involvement in inappropriate behavior related to his state office,” Rosenberger said in a statement on Wednesday. “I met with him later in the day where he acknowledged and confirmed the allegations. It became clear that his resignation was the most appropriate course of action for him, his family, the constituents of the 87th House District and this institution.”
Goodman, 33, who says on his campaign web site that “healthy, vibrant, thriving, values-driven families are the source of Ohio’s proud history” and on Twitter as “Christian. American. Conservative. Republican, ”expressed regret for his actions.
“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,” he said in a statement. “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.” (You got to be kidding.)
Previously, Goodman was an aide to and is a close friend of anti-gay extremist U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, of Urbana, Ohio who develops “pro-family and pro-liberty” policies.
Jordan endorsed Goodman in 2016, saying he had “the character, experience and passion to serve the families and taxpayers of our part of Ohio in the Statehouse.”
