Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin visited my WHAS Radio studio yesterday to discuss multiple allegations of wrongdoing by controversial conservative state representative Dan Johnson. The “pope” of Heart of Fire Church was accused of molesting a 17-year-old parishioner in 2012. Johnson met with media earlier in the day. Governor Bevin and I discussed his situation at length in this interview.
About 24 hours later, Johnson would take his own life by shooting himself in the head in Bullitt County.
Pastor Dan Johnson drove to a remote area and killed himself the next day after posting on Facebook that he was innocent. He alluded to PTSD issues and declared that he was now heading to his real home in Heaven.
Bevin tweeted about Johnson’s suicide shortly after the news was released.
Saddened to hear of tonight’s death of KY Representative Dan Johnson…My heart breaks for his family tonight…These are heavy days in Frankfort and in America…May God indeed shed His grace on us all…We sure need it…
— Governor Matt Bevin (@GovMattBevin) December 14, 2017
Even though the man had just killed himself, many commenters in the thread below the governor’s tweet were heavily critical.
Would ask sincerely that all the nasty, vulgar comments & other despicable responses to the news of KY Representative Dan Johnson’s death, be kept in the minds and hearts of those who have them…Don’t share..Please have respect for his family and friends at this time…Thank you
— Governor Matt Bevin (@GovMattBevin) December 14, 2017
Twitter responses were ablaze for Republican Wesley Morgan’s claims that Johnson was a “good man” and that the media and Kentucky GOP induced his suicide.
Media, @KyDems and especially @KYGOP should be ashamed of itself. Republicans, you turned your back on an ally and forced a good man who was trying to do right by the people of Kentucky to suicide. All because he wasn’t ever your pick. You wanted him gone. Think about that.
— Wesley Morgan (@WesleyMorganKY) December 14, 2017
One day after Johnson killed himself, his widow was already doing interviews and proposing that Governor Bevin appoint her to finish his term. Rebecca Johnson even cursed and insulted the reporter from her church pew.
“I am confident if that little greasy reporter had not done what he did my husband would be alive right now.” Widow of Kentucky lawmaker who committed suicide after sexual assault allegations speaks out pic.twitter.com/GDkMeqqjTP
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 15, 2017
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OTHER INTERVIEW TOPICS WITH BEVIN
In the radio interview, Governor Bevin and I discussed stalled action on the pension crisis, sexual harassment claims against other Republican legislators, and the challenge of loaning one’s campaign millions of dollars with a house full of young children.
