A Republican lawmaker in Kentucky facing sexual assault allegations has committed suicide.
Bullitt County Sheriff Donnie Tinnell says Rep. Dan Johnson, 57, shot himself Wednesday on a bridge in Mount Washington, Kentucky.
Tinnell confirmed the death to WDRB-TV in Louisville, Kentucky.
Authorities confirmed that Kentucky lawmaker Rep. Dan Johnson, 57, has committed suicide following reports that he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman who was 17 at the time
Prior to his death, Johnson posted this message to his Facebook account
On Monday, the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting published an account from a woman saying Johnson sexually assaulted her in the basement of his home in 2013.
According to court documents, the woman, who was 17 at the time and living at Heart of Fire City Church accommodations, alleged that Johnson had kissed her and fondled her underneath her clothes while he was a pastor.
Louisville police investigated the matter but closed the case and did not file charges.
Johnson told reporters Tuesday the accusations were ‘totally false.’
On Wednesday, at about 5pm, Johnson posted a Facebook message in which he again denied the allegations levied against him and noted that PTSD ‘is a sickness that will take my life, I cannot handle it any longer.’
‘The accusations from NPR are false GOD and only GOD knows the truth, nothing is the way they make it out to be. AMERICA will not survive this type of judge and jury fake news,’ Johnson wrote in the Facebook message, which has since been removed.
The post continued, ‘Conservatives take a stand. I LOVE GOD and I LOVE MY WIFE, who is the best WIFE in the world,My Love Forever ! My Mom and Dad my FAMILY and all five of my kids and Nine grandchildren two in tummies and many more to come each of you or a total gift from GOD stay strong, REBECCA needs YOU .
‘9-11-2001 NYC/WTC, PTSD 24/7 16 years is a sickness that will take my life, I cannot handle it any longer. IT Has Won This Life . BUT HEAVEN IS MY HOME. “PLEASE LISTEN CLOSELY, Only Three things I ask of you to do,if you love me is (1)blame no person,Satan is the accuser, so blame the Devil himself. (2) Forgive and Love everyone especially yourself .(3)most importantly LOVE GOD. P.S. I LOVE MY FRIENDS YOU ARE FAMILY ! GOD LOVES ALL PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT !’
Johnson was elected to the state legislature in 2016.