It is not exactly a new phenomenon for self-righteous politicians to be caught not practicing what they preach. Remember the toe-tapping Larry Craig, trying to solicit gay sex while publicly being anti-gay? Or former Congressman Mark Foley and his inappropriate relationship with underage male pages? Or the infamous Mark Sanford, who left his post as the governor of South Carolina to have an extramarital affair? Just to name a few, of course, as the list goes on and on.
Well, here we go again.
This time, a Republican Alabama judge who refused to marry gays and lesbians has been suspended over explicit sexual social media messages and nude photos that he sent to a woman he met in his office.
Probate Judge Leon Archer accepted a six-month unpaid suspension for sending inappropriate sexual messages to a 34-year-old (now 37) woman. They originally met when Archer officiated the woman’s wedding to another man in 2013.
According to the complaint filed by the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission, investigators discovered over 60 pages of nude photos and sexual messages between the two parties on Facebook.
The exchange started in January and continued until a local newspaper began reporting on Archer’s improprieties. The judge admitted to sending the messages. Archer’s attorney Randy Haynes said in a statement that:
“Judge Archer made some bad mistakes with a person who admitted having an agenda to discredit him…”
Oh, and that he is very, very sorry. From the Alexander City Outlook:
“I’m not going to lie about it or deny it. I’m not a perfect man and I have done a lot of things that I am not proud of and this may be one of the worst. I got caught up while on social media with my language and pictures going back and forth. It got out of hand and I should have known better.
This shows a lapse of judgment — very poor judgment. Being a judge, I should be above that and adhere to a higher standard. I feel like I have voided that trust.”
The woman he sexted with spoke anonymously to the Alexander City Outlook:
“We had been friends on Facebook for about seven months, but until earlier this month there was nothing like this.
I’m not innocent in this, I mean at first I figured he was just a lonely, nice man who wanted to talk.
As the messages got suggestive, I couldn’t believe it, but I didn’t end it.
I honestly thought it was funny in a weird way.
But when he started talking about money, like I was a prostitute, that’s when it hit me.”
What she is referring to is this message from Judge Archer:
“What you got going today…. I got some money I need to spend.”
Archer is one of many Alabama judges who last year refused to perform all marriage ceremonies rather than be forced to perform same-sex marriages in his courtroom.
Archer’s suspension, if approved by the Alabama Court of the Judiciary (the body that hears complaints against judges), begins on Monday and will last through February 2017.
Judge Archer has been married for 47 years. Again, his sexting partner is 37 years old.
So much for the moral high ground, eh?
He said that:
“All that I can do at this point is ask my wife of 47 yesrs, my children, my church family, friends and the people of Tallapoosa County to forgive me.”
At least Alabama is consistent. The state has a well documented history of being anti-gay.
All images from Facebook via The Guardian
