Openly gay Irish Senator David Norris announced Tuesday his decision to drop out of the Irish presidential race after unknown sources exposed his involvement in a controversial scandal. Prior to the withdrawal of his candidacy, Senator Norris led the polls and was on track to become the world’s first openly LGBT head of state.
According to Gay Politics, the decision to renounce his presidential bid came after details were revealed earlier this week regarding a 1998 incident in which Senator Norris’s former lover was allegedly involved with an underage boy in Israel. In attempt to lessen the charges facing his former partner, the senator wrote a letter to Israeli authorities beseeching them to show his lover leniency.
Senator Norris held a press conference Tuesday to announce his withdrawal from the election and to clarify his involvement in the scandal. “It is essential that I act decisively now to halt this negative process,” Norris said. “I do not regret supporting and seeking clemency for a friend, but I do regret giving the impression that I did not have sufficient compassion for the victim of Ezra’s crime.”
He explained that his decision to write a letter on behalf of his former lover “was out of love and concern”, and stressed that he in no way condoned his partner’s actions.
Norris added, “It is very sad that in trying to help a person I loved dearly, I made a human error.”
