‘Kissing congressman’ Vance McAllister: Will voters forgive transgression?
Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.) may not be planning to resign, but he hasn't shown up for work for the past two days.McAllister was a no-show for four votes Tuesday afternoon on budgetary matters, according to the roll call of the votes. He also skipped two votes Monday evening on another budget-related measure.
A spokeswoman for McAllister said Tuesday that McAllister "is with his family in Louisiana."
In an interview with a Louisiana newspaper, McAllister said he will seek reelection “unless there is an outcry for me not to serve, and so far there has been an outpouring of support, not for my actions, but for me to continue to represent the people."
He added: “If the people are willing to forgive me, I'll keep fighting. If there’s somebody more perfect than me who they support, it’s their will.”
McAllister so far has escaped widespread calls for his resignation. House Majority Leader Eric I. Cantor (R-Va.) said Tuesday morning that he was glad McAllister had issued an apology and that Americans should expect "a very high standard of behavior and conduct" from members of Congress.
At a gathering of conservative Republican lawmakers, only one member, Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), responded to a reporter's question about whether McAllister should resign.
"I'm just lifting up Vance and his family in prayer," Duncan said, before asking for other questions.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) told Politico on Tuesday that she is planning to introduce a bill that would require annual mandatory sexual harassment training for all members of Congress and their aides. The training would include “practical examples aimed at the prevention of harassment, discrimination and retaliation presented by expert trainers,” according to her office.
House Republican leaders ignored a shouted question at their weekly news conference Tuesday morning about whether members of Congress should be required to attend sexual harassment courses.