La. GOP Chair Calling For McAllister Resignation Stood Behind Vitter

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., walks near the floor of the Senate during the votes on tax cuts legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010.
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Roger Villere, the chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party who has called for Rep. Vance McAllister (R-LA) to resign, stood behind Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) when he was embroiled in a prostitution scandal.

After McAllister was caught kissing his staffer, Villere on Thursday put out a scathing statement asking the congressman to resign.

“Mr. McAllister’s extreme hypocrisy is an example of why ordinary people are fed up with politics. A breach of trust of this magnitude can only be rectified by an immediate resignation,” he said. “He has embarrassed our party, our state and the institution of Congress.”

In 2007 when Vitter’s phone number was among those disclosed by the “D.C.Madam” accused of running a prostitution ring, Villere expressed disappointment, but ultimately supported the senator.

“I think if nothing else comes out, and this is all there is, then three weeks from now, this will all be behind (Vitter),” Villere told the Times-Picayune at the time.

The party chair said that he received many emails about Vitter, mostly supporting the senator, and that a “vocal minority” opposed him.

Then, when Vitter faced a primary challenger when he ran for re-election in 2010, Villere backed Vitter.

During the 2013 special election that McAllister won, he was not backed by the GOP establishment, which mostly endorsed state Sen. Neil Riser. Villere did not endorse McAllister or his main opponent.

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