Power, lust, undoing

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Dec 16, 2007 by Tim Carpenter

By Tim Carpenter

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

In the twilight of their extramarital affair, Linda Carter urged Paul Morrison to let her go, repair his shattered marriage and resolve his hatred of Phill Kline.

If not, Carter said, Morrison's life would remain a powder keg. A destructive fireball, when eventually triggered, would consume all in his wake: wife, children, friends, colleagues - even Carter.

Morrison chose not to make peace with Kline. He made intermittent attempts to console his family, but he also continued to pursue a life with Carter.

A turning point in this Kansas drama came Friday when Morrison stood alone in front of a horde of reporters to read his own political obituary. The fiery, straightforward career prosecutor - a man who built a legacy putting away serial killers in Johnson County - apologized for losing grip of his personal life. He stood alone, with eyes down and shoulders hunched, telling the world he had betrayed those closest to him. In a clear voice for ally and enemy to hear, he said he would resign as attorney general.

"My actions caused pain and sadness to many people I love," Morrison said. "I have worked for some time to get right with God, get right with my family, and get right with friends, and address my personal problems. I will continue to do so."

He will carry forth with that fight - and battles to clear himself of sexual harassment, ethics and criminal accusations - as a private citizen. Political fallout will be the concern of others swearing allegiance to the Democratic Party, especially Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Quick fall

In one year, Sebelius went from the high of celebrating Morrison's campaign victory in the attorney general's race to the low of being compelled to find someone to replace him. The Kansas Constitution sets no firm timetable, but Morrison did her a favor by stating his intention to remain in office until Jan. 31. That gives Sebelius a window to weigh possibilities and check for skeletons in the closet.

Sebelius has said nothing publicly to indicate a preference for the person most likely to be given the rebuilding assignment in the attorney general's office.

Her decision will be cast amid the tangled wreckage left by Morrison. She will make a selection with knowledge she embraced Morrison's decision to swap political parties to run as a Democrat in the 2006 general election against then-Attorney General Phill Kline.

When Morrison formally announced his campaign in October 2005, Sebelius cherished recruitment of a candidate with the pedigree to take on Kline.

"Few leaders have a stronger record on safety and security than Paul Morrison," she said at the time

The governor also must contemplate Morrison's sudden fall in context of a scandal that enveloped the attorney general following publication a week ago today of a story in The Topeka Capital- Journal outlining details of the Morrison-Carter affair.

The details

Carter, in a statement she signed prior to resigning as an administrator in the Johnson County District Attorney's Office in November, said her sexual relationship with Morrison began in 2005 and continued well into 2007. They had sex in the Johnson County Courthouse, motels throughout Kansas and in at least three other states.

The affair flourished after Morrison resigned as Johnson County district attorney and was sworn in as attorney general. Their covert relationship was sustained after Kline was appointed to replace Morrison as district attorney.

As the relationship collapsed this fall, according to her statement, Morrison told Carter he loved her and still wanted to marry her. Carter said she told Morrison to "go home and make peace with Phill Kline." She also said that Morrison's "hatred of Kline was going to destroy" him.

In the statement, Carter said Morrison sought confidential information about Kline's effort to prosecute the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Johnson County. She said Morrison also encouraged her to intervene on behalf of eight former Morrison employees who had been fired by Kline.

Finally, Carter accused Morrison of sexual harassment in a federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint.

In the wake of the story, Sebelius said Morrison should resign if guilty of illegal activities. Morrison didn't wait for the judicial process to play out. He confirmed the affair with Carter, denied sexually harassing her and threw water on the idea he crossed any legal barrier.

Predictably, there is a partisan split over whether Sebelius will choose more wisely this time.

"I am confident Gov. Sebelius will select the right person to restore every Kansans' faith in the office of attorney general," said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka.

Kansas GOP chairman Kris Kobach wasn't convinced: "I question whether the governor can be trusted to exercise better judgment."

Assets, liabilities

The quick resignation by Morrison spared the Democratic Party of heavy doses of internal agony, said Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University. If Morrison had stuck around well into 2008, he said, the controversy threatened to weaken a coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats that Sebelius and others have nurtured in recent years.