The widow of Dan Johnson, the Bullitt County state Representative who killed himself Wednesday after being accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year- old girl four years ago, plans to run for her husband’s now vacant seat.
Bullitt County Coroner Dave Billings said Thursday night Johnson died of a single gunshot wound to the head and officially ruled the death a suicide. A .40 caliber pistol was found next to his body near a bridge in Mt. Washington.
Johnson’s family had reported him missing after not being able to reach him after he posted what appeared to be a suicide note on his Facebook page at about 5:00 Wednesday night, according to The Associated Press.
Louisville Metro Police previously investigated the sexual abuse allegations made four years ago by a now 21-year-old woman, but did not move forward with charges. Police, though, re-opened the investigation after a recent story on the accusation by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting (KCIR).
Media outlets report that leaders of both major parties called for Johnson to resign following the publication of KCIR’s report, which said an apparently intoxicated Johnson inappropriately touched the girl, while she and Johnson’s daughter slept in a downstairs bedroom in Johnson’s home following a New Year’s Eve party.
Johnson was elected to the General Assembly in 2016, part of a flourish of Republican victories that gave the GOP control of the Kentucky House of Representatives for the first time in nearly 100 years.
Johnson won his election despite GOP leaders urging him to drop out of the race after he posted a Facebook photo comparing Barack and Michelle Obama to monkeys, and posting derogatory comments about Muslims.
Rebecca Johnson says she is running for his seat “because these high-tech lynchings based on lies and half-truths can’t be allowed to win the day,” according to media reports.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
