McAllister Skips Votes After Kissing Video Blows Up

By Matt Fuller

Posted April 8, 2014 at 10:06am

Rep. Vance McAllister, embroiled in a scandal over a video allegedly showing the married Republican kissing an employee , did not vote when the House reconvened Monday night.

The Louisiana Republican was among 36 lawmakers who did not cast votes on the Budget and Accounting Transparency Act, which had two roll calls Monday night around 7 p.m. when the House returned from the weekend.

McAllister earlier in the day had issued a short statement apologizing and asking for privacy for his family, but didn’t show up for votes and his office door in the Cannon Building was locked. Phone calls to the office went straight to voicemail.

The lights inside were on, but no one so much as opened the door for hours, despite reporters camping out there for a stakeout.

The possibility that the video fallout could end the conservative freshman’s political career after only five months on the job already has potential successors queuing up .

Despite McAllister’s pleas for privacy, he’s unlikely to avoid the press for long — he will have to show up to the Capitol at some point.

“There’s no doubt I’ve fallen short and I’m asking for forgiveness,” McAllister said in the statement Monday. “I’m asking for forgiveness from God, my wife, my kids, my staff, and my constituents who elected me to serve. Trust is something I know has to be earned whether your a husband, a father, or a congressman. I promise to do everything I can to earn back the trust of everyone I’ve disappointed.”