Eight-term Indiana congressman Mark Souder (R), made a statement this morning indicating that he will resign his position in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, just two weeks after he narrowly won a primary vote for reelection. He is stepping down after news of his extra-martial affair with office staffer Tracy Meadows Jackson became public knowledge.
The affair began after Jackson was hired in 2004. An anonymous tipster phoned a Souder aide as well as the offices of his opponents in the Republican primary. The congressman’s chief of staff, Renee Howell, confronted him last week about the rumors. Souder, in an attempt to stay ahead of the scandal, began planning his resignation shortly after learning that his affair with Jackson had been discovered.
Jackson is married to Kosciusko County Commissioner Brad Jackson. She serves on the Kosciusko County Foundation Board.
Souder delivered the following statement: “I sinned against God, my wife and my family by having a mutual relationship with a part-time member of my staff. I wish I could have been a better example. In this poisonous environment of Washington D.C., any personal failing is seized upon, often twisted for political gain. I am resigning rather than put my family through that painful, drawn-out process. We are a committed family but the error is mine and I should bear the responsibility.” See his remarks in their entirety in the video below.
Souder opted to resign rather than appear before the House Ethics Committee. The 59-year-old family values conservative was first elected to his seat in 1994. He married Diane Zimmer Souder in 1974. They reside in Fort Wayne and have three grown children and two grandchildren.
Jackson, 45, handled communications for the congressman in his northern Indiana district office, and periodically traveled with him. She is still on the staff.
See Souder’s video resignation and additional footage of the couple discussing abstinence education below:
Photo Credit: PicApp and video screenshots