Allen: Gov. King 'Dragging Us Through The Mud With Him'

NAT Congresswoman renews call for governor's resignation

SKYLLINGS, MON--On Thursday, NAT Congresswoman Mary Kay Allen renewed her call for embattled Monomi Governor Scott King (NAT) to resign.

Allen, who made headlines last month when she became the first major NAT official in Monomi to call for the governor's resignation, told the GBC's Luke Gissel that the governor "has no choice" but to step down because he has "lost credibility with the state legislature and his constituents." Ms. Allen also rebuked King, whom she has described in the past as a friend, for "dragging [Monomians] through the mud with him," and told Gissel she wished he would "spare the state" by resigning.

King is under investigation for a range of crimes, including prostitution, using his influence to land state contracts for friends, and obstruction of justice. In June, Federal investigators announced they did not have enough evidence to file charges. The case has now been turned over to Monomi's Attorney General, Ed Casey (NAT), who will decide if the state will file charges.

Efforts are already underway in the State Assembly to proceed with impeachment. A citizens' group, called Citizens to Recall Scott King Jr., has also begun a recall effort to remove the governor from office. So far, that group says it has around 411,000 signatures. Monomi's Secretary of State, Sharon Dimaggio, says the group needs 389,000 valid signatures by August 17th to get the recall measure on the ballot.

Mr. King maintains he is innocent of all allegations leveled against him. So far, several state lawmakers and Conservative congressmen have called for his resignation. But only one of Monomi's five delegates, Willy Locke (DR), has done so. Lt. Gov. Erica Kinsley (NAT) has also called for King to step down, fueling speculation her call was purely political, as Kinsley would assume the governorship should King leave office, and does not want a scandal-ridden King over-shadowing a possible 2010 run for governor.

Allen says her calls for King's resignation are nothing personal. In fact, Allen says she considers King a friend who is "unfortunately involved in a situation that makes it difficult for him to perform his duties as governor."

"I just know that here in the 1st district, my constituents are angry that the governor and the state legislature are being distracted by this. They want him gone. They want the legislature back to work on real issues facing our state," Allen said.

King's office did not comment when asked for a reaction to Allen's latest comments. Lt. Gov. Erica Kinsley also did not have immediate comment.