8-term Republican Rep. Mark Souder of Indiana says he’ll resign over affair with staff member

Ind. GOP Rep. Souder says he’ll resign over affair

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Rep. Mark Souder — an evangelical Christian who promoted abstinence education and was known for his outspoken views on religion — said Tuesday he will resign from Congress because of an extramarital affair with a part-time staff member.

The announcement by the eight-term Republican rocked party leaders, who had counted on keeping the Republican-leaning district in a year that many expect will favor the GOP nationally come November.

Souder’s staff contacted the staff of House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, on Sunday to alert them to the situation. Boehner spoke on the phone with Souder on Monday.

Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said the minority leader “has been perfectly clear that he will hold our members to the highest ethical standards.”

Rumors of Souder’s infidelity had circulated in the northeastern Indiana district for months. Opponents reported receiving anonymous calls a few days before the May 4 primary with allegations of the affair.

But Souder’s announcement that he would resign effective Friday and the confession of the affair stunned many voters who had backed his conservative support for family values and traditional marriage.

“I just think it’s a crying shame,” said Jean Tarner, who owns the Huntington Street Bar in downtown Syracuse. “He’s supposed to be setting the values for the youth. It’s just too bad.”

Souder was alone during an emotional news conference at his Fort Wayne office during which he apologized for his actions but provided no details, including the name of the staffer. He said his wife and family were “more than willing” to stand with him, but “the error is mine and I should bear the responsibility,” Souder said.

“I am so ashamed to have hurt the ones I love,” he said as he battled tears. “I am sorry to have let so many friends down, people who have worked so hard for me.”

Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels said he was surprised and disappointed by Souder’s announcement but supported his decision to leave office.

“He did a wrong thing but now he’s done the right thing,” Daniels said.

A spokeswoman from Daniels’ office said a special election will be held to fill the vacancy. The winner would complete the remainder of Souder’s term that ends in January.

Throughout his time in Congress, Souder made his evangelical Christianity a centerpiece of his public persona. It was an image that played well in the 3rd District, which has a strong base of religious conservatives. Souder was known for his outspoken views on religion and his uncompromising conservative positions on social issues such as abortion.

He said after a 2008 hearing on abstinence-only education that the only fully reliable way young people can protect themselves from pregnancy and STDs is by “abstaining from sex until in a committed, faithful relationship.”

Around the same time, he also recorded a video interview with a staff member in which he stressed the importance of abstinence education.

As a lawmaker, Souder was best known for his work on drug enforcement issues and his opposition to online gambling. Souder played an important role in 2006 legislation that targeted methamphetamine dealers.

“To serve has been a blessing and a responsibility given from God. I wish I could have been a better example,” Souder said. “I sinned against God, my wife and my family by having a mutual relationship with a part-time member of my staff.”

He said he chose to resign rather than subject his family to a “painful, drawn-out process” in what he called “the poisonous environment of Washington, D.C.”

“I’m sick of politicians who drag their spouses in front of the cameras rather than confronting the problems that they’ve caused,” he said.

Souder, 59, has been married to Diane since 1974, according to the biography on his office website. They have three adult children and two grandchildren.

He was seeking a ninth term after winning the May 4 Republican primary with 48 percent of the vote. His GOP opponent, car dealer Bob Thomas, spent much of his own money on television commercials portraying Souder as a career politician who wasn’t a true fiscal conservative. Souder countered by emphasizing his A-plus marks from the National Rifle Association and 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee.

Nate Bullock, a campaign spokesman for Thomas, said he received anonymous phone calls about Souder’s affair shortly before the primary but wanted to run a campaign on the issues.

“We’re not going to spend our time digging through the mud looking for every dirty little secret we can find on somebody,” Bullock said.

In November, Souder was to face Democrat Tom Hayhurst, a former Fort Wayne city councilman who got 46 percent of the vote against Souder in 2006 — the toughest challenge since Souder was first elected in 1994.

Hayhurst said in statement that his thoughts and prayers were with Souder and his family.

“I’m not running for Congress to run against anyone, but I’m running because I think I can help change Washington and that will not change not matter who is in the race,” Hayhurst said.

Republicans hope the GOP tendencies will prevail in November in the district that John McCain carried by more than 10 points in the 2008 presidential election.

Republican and Democratic precinct committeemen in the district will choose nominees for the special election, and GOP precinct officials will choose a candidate for the November ballot. The special election cannot be held until for at least 60 days.

One possible Republican replacement for Souder is state Sen. Marlin Stutzman of Howe, who finished second to former Sen. Dan Coats in this month’s GOP primary for the U.S. Senate. Thomas and state GOP Rep. Randy Borror of Fort Wayne are also among those interested.

Souder’s resignation continues a significant turnover among Indiana’s congressional delegation this year.

Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh announced in February he wouldn’t seek re-election, saying he had tired of Congress. Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsworth is leaving his southern Indiana seat to run for Bayh’s position.

Republican Rep. Steve Buyer, who had been under fire over a foundation he’d set up to award college scholarships, said he wouldn’t seek a 10th term in the House after his wife was diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease. The Office of Congressional Ethics took no action on a complaint filed by the Washington-based Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics.

Associated Press writers Henry C. Jackson in Washington and Rick Callahan in Indianapolis contributed to this report.