Date: 12-14-2017
Louisville Public Media ‘deeply sad’ to hear of Dan Johnson death
The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting said in a statement that they were “deeply sad” to hear about Rep. Dan Johnson’s death by suicide, just two days after an investigative article accused the politician and preacher of sexual abuse.
“All of us at Louisville Public Media are deeply sad to hear that State Representative Dan Johnson has died, apparently of suicide,” a statement from Michael Skoler, President of Louisville Public Media said.
Johnson was accused by a woman of molesting her when she was 17 after a New Year’s party in 2012, according to a wide-ranging report published Monday by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting.
The politician did not return multiple requests for comment from Louisville Public Media during their months-long investigation.
“As part of the process, we reached out to Representative Johnson numerous times over the course of a seven-month investigation. He declined requests to talk about our findings,” Skoler said in his statement.
That was followed by calls for Johnson’s resignation from both Republican and Democratic leaders. But at a press conference Tuesday morning, Johnson said that he wouldn’t step down.
Johnson said his wife and daughters were close to the young woman. He said the woman was a church member whom he claims was upset about how he spoke to the girls that night.
“I don’t want to blast this girl, I have a lot of compassion for her,” he said. “I’m very sorrowful that she’s in this dark place in her life.”
Around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Johnson wrote on Facebook that the allegations were false and sent a farewell to his church followers and family. Johnson’s Facebook post was taken down later Wednesday evening.
“The accusations from NPR are false GOD and only GOD knows the truth. Nothing is the way they make it out to be … GOD LOVES ALL PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT,” Johnson wrote.
Bullitt County Coroner David Billings told Courier Journal that Johnson was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Greenwell Ford Road in Mount Washington. The spot is called the River Bottoms.
By Thomas Novelly
Louisville Courier-Journal
