Thursday, November 19, 2009

A Johnson County sex scandal is affecting a U.S. Senate campaign. A staffer for Kansas Rep. Todd Tiahrt has resigned.

Jase Stanton was a field coordinator for the campaign in Johnson County.

A police report showed that Stanton was arrested in July by Overland Park police for an incident that happened in the summer of 2008. A public version of the report identified the person as a "sexual assault victim."

The case history from court records show the initial charges were filed as aggravated sodomy and aggravated sexual battery. The record showed Stanton pleaded not guilty.

The same document also showed a plea hearing is scheduled for early December at the Johnson County Courthouse.

Stanton resigned from the campaign shortly after KMBC's Micheal Mahoney told him that KMBC was going to report the story Wednesday night.

Stanton said he would not comment. His attorney also would not comment.

The Tiahrt campaign issued a statement Wednesday afternoon, saying, "Prior to today, we were unaware of any allegations or charges, and while Jase strongly maintains his innocence, the campaign has accepted his resignation."

Before this, Stanton was an active volunteer in local Republican politics.

Coincidentally, last year Stanton volunteered to work on the campaign of Steve Howe for Johnson County District Attorney, and Howe's office will now prosecute Stanton.

Tiahrt, from Wichita, is running against Western Kansas Rep. Jerry Moran for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sam Brownback.

The Senate primary is in August.