This photo taken Nov. 21, 2013 shows then-newly-elected Rep. Vance McAllister, R-La. waiting to be sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington (AP)
Things have gone from bad to worse for Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.) ever since someone leaked footage of him passionately kissing a woman who is definitely not his wife.
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-La.) and the chair of the Louisiana GOP on Thursday called for the resignation of the married Republican congressman, saying that McAllister had “embarrassed” his office, his party and his state.
Separately, Willie Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” fame reportedly advised the father of five, who campaigned as a supposedly devout Christian, to handle the matter in “private.”
“Willie told me that he was a friend and that I needed to work things out privately,” McAllister told the Monroe News-Star Wednesday.
The disgraced congressman, who said he has not yet spoken to the family’s patriarch, Phil Robertson, took full advantage of his friendship with the “Duck Dynasty” crew when he ran for office in 2013, eventually earning an endorsement from the famed Louisiana family.
The congressman claims he "was taught at a young age the importance of faith, family, and hard work,” according to his website.
"If you will trust me with your vote, you can count on me to take those values to Washington and defend our Christian way of life," he added in a campaign ad.
Unlike Willie Robertson, however, the state GOP chairman, Roger Villere, was much more blunt in his message to the embattled congressman.
"Mr. McAllister's extreme hypocrisy is an example of why ordinary people are fed up with politics. A breach of trust of this magnitude can only be rectified by an immediate resignation," Villere said. "He has embarrassed our party, our state and the institution of Congress.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) even weighed in on the matter, saying that he expects "all members to be held to the highest ethical standards, and this is no different."
“He's got decisions that he has to make,” Boehner added, referring to McAllister possibly resigning.
Security footage released this week shows the congressman engaging in some passionate kissing with Melissa Peacock, a former staffer who also happens to be married. She “voluntarily” resigned after the surveillance tapes made their way to the Internet.
As of this writing, it’s unclear how the footage was leaked. McAllister has called for an FBI look into the matter.
The humiliated husband of McAllister’s former staffer claims the congressman is anything but a devout Christian.
"I know his beliefs. When he ran one of his commercials, he said 'I need your prayers,' and I asked, 'When did you get religious?' He said, 'When I needed votes,'" Heath Peacock told CNN. "He broke out the religious card and he's about the most non-religious person I know."
McAllister has no plans to resign, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Dunagin.
"The congressman is not focused on re-election right now. His family is his number one priority at this time," she said in an email.
Multiple attempts by TheBlaze on Thursday to contact the congressman proved unsuccessful.
(H/T: TPM)
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This post has been updated.
