First on CNN: Husband on kissing congressman: ‘He has wrecked my life’
(CNN) - The husband of the woman caught making out with Rep. Vance McAllister said the Louisiana Republican destroyed his life and marriage.
"I'm just freaking devastated by the whole deal, man. I loved my wife so much. I cannot believe this. I cannot freaking believe it. I feel like I'm going to wake up here in a minute and this is all going to be a bad nightmare," Heath Peacock told CNN Tuesday.
On Monday, The Ouachita Citizen in West Monroe, Louisiana, published a surveillance video it says shows McAllister and his scheduler, Melissa Hixon Peacock, passionately kissing in his office last December.
Heath Peacock said he didn't know about the episode until Melissa called him a couple hours before the news broke.
"He has wrecked my life," Peacock, 34, said of McAllister. "We're headed for divorce."
Heath and Melissa Peacock have been married for six years and have a 6-year-old son.
"It was just a kiss, that was all it was, but it embarrassed me and my family," Heath Peacock said. "This guy has turned my life upside down."
Melissa Peacock no longer works for McAllister, Heath Peacock said.
Melissa Peacock and McAllister's office did not return requests for comment.
Poll: What's worse – a politician who cheats or who abuses power?
McAllister, who is married with five children, issued a statement on Monday saying, "There's no doubt I've fallen short and I'm asking for forgiveness. I'm asking for forgiveness from God, my wife, my kids, my staff, and my constituents who elected me to serve."
Heath Peacock noted that "he's apologized to everyone in the world except me."
McAllister was elected in a November special election to fill the vacancy left by GOP Rep. Rodney Alexander's resignation. McAllister campaigned as a Christian conservative - a claim Peacock disputed.
"I know his beliefs. When he ran one of his commercials, he said 'I need your prayers,' and I asked, 'When did you get religious?' He said, 'When I needed votes,'" Peacock recalled. "He broke out the religious card and he's about the most non-religious person I know."
McAllister also made headlines earlier this year when he invited "Duck Dynasty" star Willie Robertson to be his guest at the President's State of the Union address.
Separately, McAllister's office is dropping a plan to request the FBI investigate who leaked the surveillance video.
"Congressman McAllister's office will not pursue an FBI investigation at this time regarding the distribution of a video filmed in leased federal office space," spokeswoman Jennifer Dunagin said in a statement on Wednesday.
CNN's Deirdre Walsh, Evan Perez and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this story.
From CNN Politics
- 5 takeaways from CNN's town halls with Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar February 19, 2020 10:19 am
- Sanders: 'I do not believe in online bullying. End of discussion' February 19, 2020 03:05 am
- Buttigieg slams Trump: My marriage never involved sending 'hush money to a porn star' February 19, 2020 11:15 am
- The Point: Why Bloomberg may turn unstoppable soon February 19, 2020 05:30 am
- Barr has said he's considered resigning over Trump's interference in Justice Department matters, source says February 19, 2020 05:43 am
- Trump commutes Blagojevich's sentence and grants clemency to 10 others February 19, 2020 01:46 am
Go to Youtube and type "Meet Vance McAllister", and you'll meet the real guy, the one who's going to bring values to Washington... hahahahaa
Apparently he doesn't like the tea party congressman tea bagging his wife…
/yawn Another worthless politician; the way I see it there are currently 636 worthless politicians in Washington, and 9 ring wraiths serving Sauron...and CNN is way over moderating.
Hey Heath.... you're forgetting that it takes two to tango. Don't pin this all on the congressman... Your wife looked to be a pretty willing participant.
So, the congressman wrecked his life but his wife, she wasn't really the issue. Hmmm
We have hypocrites running this country....incredible.
The Neanderthal should get over it. People aren't owned. She was kissing the guy, so what. If Heath had any confidence it wouldn't bother him.
Will, even though that happened. He will not get full custody of the kid. Kids need a mom in their lives. "stuff" happens....
“It was just a kiss, that was all it was,
-------------------------------------------------
Did you see the video?
No. I didn't think so.
That was a "thank you for f'ing my brains out" kiss goodbye/goodnight if ever I've had one!
Poor sap.
Being embarrassed is the LEAST of your problems.
Your wife is having just as difficult a time keeping her pants up as the Rep. is.
I can understand the hurt. I have been thru a lot more with my spouse. But forgiveness and getting it right for the kids is where it is at. Do not put your self first.
His wife is the one that made the vow, and the one that wrecked his life.
Why do we think that politicians are not human? People cheat everyday, even our past Presidents. Sadly the media runs with this story because they are in the public eye, and they don't care that they are not the only ones hurt. There are six children, two spouses, and extended family that were hurt by this and now it is also public. I feel terrible for them and wonder why is this news? Why does our society continue to allow such trashy journalism to continue?
Yep, in the process of either putting clothes on or taking them off.
I just really hate how she's not taking any responsibility in the situation, she's just as guilty as he is. She ruined her own marriage. I hope he gets custody of his son.
LOL, he should pull a Clinton and just angrily demand that everybody just stop talking about it. It's his private life! Then he could demand that we all talk about "saving Social Security" instead.
It worked before.
Dude needs to realize that everyone makes mistakes. At least she gave him a heads up and copped to the situation. More than a lot of people would have done.
Is she in the right? Heck no, but I don't think he should just throw her out of the house. Life has its ups and downs, what a joker.
He says it "was just a kiss." So if that's true and it's also true that he "loved his wife" how come they're "headed for divorce?" It seems to me if it was "just a kiss" he should be forgiving and forgetting. But it's obvious he isn't that sort or there was something more to it that "just a kiss."
I just hate how she's not taking any responsibility in the situation. She is just as guilty, she ruined her own marriage not him. I hope he gets custody of his son.
Obviously, this politician does not belong to the US congress. There may be more to it than meets the eyes.
I so agree with dpts85 and all those who said that the wife is responsible too! Not that it eases the pain, but it's good the husband found out that his wife falls short in the ethics department. I do believe that if he loves her as much as he says he does, rather than walking away from the marriage, they can both sit down, confront the situation and make some new agreements!
A politician who abuses power is far worse, in my humble opinion. The caveat is that if a politician can cheat on their spouse, then what are they capable of doing to the people who voted them in?
That was NOT "just a kiss!" And what's he doing with his shirt untucked – at the office – what else were they up to?
How Humilating and hysterical at the same time.."It was just a kiss" Naw honey, you two messed up.
If you believe, it was just a kiss, you live in the world of fools. This is the family value of Republican in display.
@Frank Nelson: "I can understand the hurt. I have been thru a lot more with my spouse. But forgiveness and getting it right for the kids is where it is at. Do not put your self first."
Then he should resign immediately so he can spend time with his family – no more government pay, no more government benes, not more government free ride.