Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) is not only facing a GOP primary challenger this week, he’s also defending keeping a long-time aide on staff after pleading guilty to domestic violence.
Former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor announced Friday that he is running against Vitter for the Republican nomination. Traylor made the last-minute decision to run at the behest of fellow Republicans who want an alternative to the disgraced Vitter. “So many people want a different choice than what we’ve got right now,” Traylor said.
When Vitter’s cell phone number showed up in her black book of the so-called “D.C. Madam” in 2007, he admitted to a “very serious sin in my past.” The federal authorities busted the prostitution ring run by Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who committed suicide before trial.
Vitter is also under fire by women’s groups for keeping Brent Furer on his government-paid, congressional staff after attacking his girlfriend in January 2008 with a knife, causing her to get eight stitches in her chin. Five days after Furer attacked her, Vitter suspended him without pay from his senate job. The unpaid suspension lasted all of five days.
Furer pled guilty to three misdemeanor charges in D.C. Superior Court in April 2008. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail (suspended), two years probation, 40 hours of community service, and alcohol/drug treatment. After pleading guilty, Furer remained on Vitter’s senate staff—reportedly handling women’s issues, of all things—until two weeks ago, when the conviction was made public.
Furer has worked for Vitter in the Senate since 2005, earning from $25,333 -$54,791 in 2009. He has also been arrested for cocaine, road rage and at least three times for DWI.
Vitter has dodged questions on Furer, telling a local TV reporter that “I’ve responded and I really think this is desperate campaign tactics”
So why did Vitter keep Furer on his senate staff after the criminal conviction? Rumors have swirled in Washington that Furer was the conduit between Vitter and the D.C. Madam and other prostitutes.
Furer’s attorney, Thomas J. Kelly, Jr. of Venable denies there is any truth to this reasoning. “I’ve never heard that at all,” Kelly tells HUMAN EVENTS. He says the D.C. Madam’s black book has been fully vetted, and “there’s no suggestion by anybody” that Furer is linked.
Former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor announced Friday that he is running against Vitter for the Republican nomination. Traylor made the last-minute decision to run at the behest of fellow Republicans who want an alternative to the disgraced Vitter. “So many people want a different choice than what we’ve got right now,” Traylor said.
When Vitter’s cell phone number showed up in her black book of the so-called “D.C. Madam” in 2007, he admitted to a “very serious sin in my past.” The federal authorities busted the prostitution ring run by Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who committed suicide before trial.
Vitter is also under fire by women’s groups for keeping Brent Furer on his government-paid, congressional staff after attacking his girlfriend in January 2008 with a knife, causing her to get eight stitches in her chin. Five days after Furer attacked her, Vitter suspended him without pay from his senate job. The unpaid suspension lasted all of five days.
Furer pled guilty to three misdemeanor charges in D.C. Superior Court in April 2008. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail (suspended), two years probation, 40 hours of community service, and alcohol/drug treatment. After pleading guilty, Furer remained on Vitter’s senate staff—reportedly handling women’s issues, of all things—until two weeks ago, when the conviction was made public.
Furer has worked for Vitter in the Senate since 2005, earning from $25,333 -$54,791 in 2009. He has also been arrested for cocaine, road rage and at least three times for DWI.
Vitter has dodged questions on Furer, telling a local TV reporter that “I’ve responded and I really think this is desperate campaign tactics”
So why did Vitter keep Furer on his senate staff after the criminal conviction? Rumors have swirled in Washington that Furer was the conduit between Vitter and the D.C. Madam and other prostitutes.
Furer’s attorney, Thomas J. Kelly, Jr. of Venable denies there is any truth to this reasoning. “I’ve never heard that at all,” Kelly tells HUMAN EVENTS. He says the D.C. Madam’s black book has been fully vetted, and “there’s no suggestion by anybody” that Furer is linked.
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