Kansas AG in Sex Scandal Resigns

The attorney general of Kansas, who has been embroiled in a sex scandal that also raises significant legal ethics issues, announced today that he will resign from office effective at the end of January. At that point, he will have been in office barely one year.

"Many people feel betrayed by my personal actions, and they have every right to feel that way," said Paul Morrison during a press conference. While he has made personal mistakes, however, Morrison said he has upheld the law while in office, reports the Lawrence Journal-World & News.

As detailed in an earlier ABAJournal.com post, Morrison admittedly had an extramarital affair with a former subordinate who recently filed a sexual harassment claim against him. However, she also contends that he used her to interfere in investigations being conducted by the Johnson County District Attorney, which Morrison denies.

In addition to a state supreme court disciplinary investigation, which Morrison himself requested, it appears that he is also the target of an investigation for which the Johnson County district attorney was given permission Thursday to hire a special prosecutor, according to the Lawrence newspaper.

Associated Press:"Kansas AG Resigns; Had Admitted Affair."

Kansas City Star: "Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison resigns."

(Hat tip: In This Moment.)