Breaking: Rep. Dan Johnson (R of KY) just shot and killed himself.

[Kaleva]

13. Good riddance

"Now 21, Maranda Richmond says she attended Johnson’s church and was a friend of his daughter. After a wild, boozy New Year’s Eve party — heavy drinking parties including juveniles appear to be a regular part of the “worship” at Heart of Fire — she stayed over with Johnson’s daughter only to wake up in the wee hours with Johnson kneeling over her. She says he kissed her, fondled her, forced his hands under her pants and penetrated her with his finger.

But KyCIR uncovered much more in Johnson’s long, seamy past:

▪ In 1985, Louisville police found Johnson’s Cadillac Coupe de Ville doused with gasoline. Two people arrested at the scene said Johnson had paid them to torch it. Johnson reported it stolen the next morning but eventually admitted he’d paid to have it destroyed so he could collect insurance. Indicted on charges of arson and filing a false police report, he pleaded not guilty and completed a six-month diversion program and the charges were dropped.

▪ In 2000, Johnson’s Heart of Fire church burned in a blaze that investigators concluded was intentionally set. The back door was unlocked and a flammable liquid had been poured along a hallway. Johnson said the church had been threatened and blamed the Ku Klux Klan. The insurance company sued, raising questions about poor security and pointing out the church was deep in debt, as is common in arson cases. That case was settled and no arson charges were filed.

▪ Alcoholic Beverage Control officers have cited Johnson and the church three times for selling alcohol without a license. These sales happened at regular weekend church parties. KyCIR described them as “Bikers, booze and, occasionally, bare breasts ... a costume party featuring zombie nuns in short skirts.” In a 2009 trial Johnson, dressed in a priest’s collar and wearing a cross, claimed that the drinks were served as part of a “communion.”

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/opinion/editorials/article189451979.html#storylink=cpy