A Republican Kentucky state representative who was being investigated over allegations he molested a teenage girl committed suicide Wednesday night, according to police.
57-year-old State Rep. Dan Johnson shot himself on a bridge in the Louisville suburb of Mt. Washington, said Bullitt County Sheriff Donnie Tinnell while speaking with WDRB-TV.
Johnson was under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl at a 2012 New Year's Eve party. He allegedly forced himself on the girl and put his hands up her shirt and down her pants, according to an expose published Monday by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting.
Despite the allegations, police never charged Johnson with a crime.
The lawmaker posted a lengthy Facebook message denying the accusations just a few hours before taking his own life.
"The accusations from NPR are false GOD and only GOD knows the truth, nothing is the way they make it out to be," Johnson wrote. "AMERICA will not survive this type of judge and jury fake news."
Later in the message, Johnson, who supposedly helped with rescue efforts on 9/11, made an ominous comment about still suffering from the experience. "PTSD 24/7 16 years is a sickness that will take my life, I cannot handle it any longer."
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin tweeted his condolences after hearing the news. "Saddened to hear of tonight’s death of KY Representative Dan Johnson...My heart breaks for his wife and children...These are heavy days in Frankfort and in America...May God shed His grace on us all...We sure need it..."
Source: nydailynews.com
