The No. 3 Republican in the Indiana House abruptly resigned Tuesday, reportedly over a sexually explicit video that was sent from a cellphone he said had been stolen from him in Canada.
The Indianapolis Star reported that state Rep. Jud McMillin’s surprise resignation came after the sexually explicit video was texted from McMillin’s phone to an unknown number of recipients. It’s unclear from the report whether McMillin sent the text himself or someone else sent it.
McMillin also sent a bizarre group text message last week apologizing for “anything offensive” his contacts may have received from him, according to Indianapolis TV station WXIN.
“My phone was stolen in Canada 24 hours ago,” a screenshot of the message published by WXIN read. “I have just been able to reactivate it under my control. Please disregard any messages you received recently. I am truly sorry for anything offensive you may have received.”
Anonymous sources close to the Republican caucus told the Indianapolis Business Journal that the video showed McMillin engaged in what the newspaper described as “sexual contact” but did not elaborate further.
McMillin said in a statement that he had decided to leave the legislature to spend more time with his family, according to the Indianapolis Star.
Reports on McMillin’s resignation noted he previously was involved in a sex scandal that ended his career as an assistant prosecutor in Montgomery County, Ohio. McMillin admitted to having a relationship with the complainant in a domestic violence case he prosecuted in 2005, but insisted that relationship didn’t begin until he already had removed himself from the case. He resigned a week after stepping off the domestic violence case.
