Topless Photo Leads State Rep to Resign
I don’t know how long Matthew Barrett’s webpage will be up. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Here’s the AP’s story:
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Ohio House Democratic leader says a state lawmaker whose computer displayed an image of a topless woman during a presentation to high schoolers has resigned. The image was projected after Rep. Matthew Barrett inserted a data memory stick into the computer for a lecture on how a bill becomes a law. The Democrat from Columbus was speaking in October to an American government class of about 20 students in the northern Ohio city of Norwalk.
Barrett first said he didn’t know how the image had become intermingled with his graphics presentation. A later review by the State Highway Patrol found the image had been downloaded by one of Barrett’s children.
Democratic leader Joyce Beatty said Thursday that Barrett acknowledged not being truthful about the matter and she immediately demanded his resignation. A spokesman for House Democrats declined to elaborate.
Tough way to end a political career...though I suppose less embarassing than getting caught paying a prostitute. I would have enjoyed hearing both sides of the conversation in which he was asked to resign. If he was in a safe political district he may have been able to move past this. He barely won his seat two years ago, so the razor-thin victory margin doesn’t allow much room for error, especially a problem as memorable as this.
