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Another C Street Vet Falls To An Extramarital Affair
Former Congressman and C Street resident Chip Pickering's estranged wife has filed a lawsuit against Pickering's alleged mistress. Leisha Pickering is suing Elizabeth Creekmore-Byrd for alienation of affection.
Rep. Pickering, a Republican from Mississippi, allegedly continued seeing his college sweetheart while they were both married. According to the suit, some of the "wrongful conduct" occurred at the C Street facility for Christian congressmen -- the same one where Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) have lived, and where Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) has recently sought counseling.
What's with this place?
The suit alleges Pickering and Creekmore-Byrd are still together. Perhaps they're soul mates?
The complaint, filed Tuesday in Hinds County Circuit Court in Mississippi, is 28 14 pages long, plus evidence, so we'll be posting more if we find anything particularly juicy.
Late Update: The suit says Rep. Pickering and Creekmore-Byrd rekindled their relationship while he was a congressman, before and while living at the C-Street facility. The relationship was "completely unknown" by Leisha Pickering, as it occurred in Washington on weekdays, and the congressman would return home to his wife and five children only on weekends.
Later Update: The suit also alleges Pickering declined Trent Lott's Senate seat and instead quit Congress altogether when his mistress gave him an ultimatum. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour denies he offered Pickering the seat.
Josh
Zachary
Another baby face, squeaky clean looking, holier-than-thou, C-street boy caught with his pants down???
What is it with these people???????
Maybe the C in C-street stands for...something else?
July 16, 2009 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Have you noticed that all of them have dead, close-set eyes?
July 17, 2009 12:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe part of The Family's right over members is to vet or arrange their marriages.
July 16, 2009 7:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, C Street's a really swinging place!
Y'know, as in 'to swing.'
July 16, 2009 8:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
So did Tim Hutchinson live at C Street too? He is another fundie who was having an affair with his staffer during the week and home to the wife and 5 kids (what's with the 5 kids?) on the weekend. All the while he was a "house manager" pursuing Bill Clinton. Sounds like little Timmy's kind of place.
Of course Timmy is now a former Rep. His constituents sided with his wife and he lost rather badly in his next election. But it wouldn't surprise me to find he was a C Street alum.
July 16, 2009 8:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to WikiPedia:
"His father is Judge Charles Pickering, Sr., a Mississippi lawyer, former municipal judge, retired Federal Court Judge, and prominent Republican politician."
Classy people, these. Racist, unfaithful, hypocritical, ambitious - just the kind of people Jesus was hoping to have as his followers.
July 16, 2009 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
More than that. Judge Pickering was recess appointed by George W Bush in 2004 to the Fifth Circuit.... Because Judge Pickering could not get through his Senate Confirmation.
Chip off the old block, that cheatin' Chip.
July 16, 2009 11:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some people might consider these so-called "conservative Christian lawmakers" to be astounding moral hypocrites in light of all these adultery revelations, but I don't think so.
I think it more likely that they were never sincere Christians (as their behavior has revealed) to begin with - they only pretended to be so, knowing that this pose would help insulate them from criticism and help attract the votes of religious conservatives.
It was a good scam for them while it lasted, but sooner or later true character shows through, as it has here. Fortunately for them, there's always the tactic of blaming the media, which I am sure they'll be doing soon.
July 16, 2009 9:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did David Vitter on C-street? Do they have to maintain a gentleman's "C" grade in their marriage? Is that what the C stands for?
July 16, 2009 11:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everyone should read The Family which is all about the C street gang and their forbears. They're fascists, basically. Or maybe more accurately, fundamentalist Calvinist. They see themselves as Top Men chosen by the Lord to lead. They're the elect, everyone else is preterite or damned. The wealthy rule, labor obeys. There are no economic problems, all problemns are moral. The poor suffer because they deserve it. A creepy bunch with deep roots in the American far right.
July 17, 2009 12:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I look forward to reading The Family. Has anything come out on the implications of the C Street house being represented as a "church?" Could they be getting some tax benefits through that false designation?
I'm thinking it was Scott Fitzgerald who said, "When fascism comes to America, it will come wrapped in the flag carrying a cross...we will have fascism with a happy face." Imagine there aren't too many happy faces at C Street these days.
July 17, 2009 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Old-fashioned as it is, Mrs. Pickering's suit is powerful to read. I find it hard to believe someone would bear five children if she didn't think she had a secure marriage. I hope the fact that Pickering's father is a powerful Jackson judge doesn't interfere with the success of this motion.
Apparently poor lil ole Mrs. Pickering didn't realize she is married to one of the exaulted few to whom Scripture doesn't apply. Wouldn't you love to know what's in those journals that Chipper is so eager to keep private?
"The Family"'s author, Jeff Sharlet, was on Rachel Maddow's show this evening. He believes it is perfectly within the realm of possibility that some of these affairs were being carried on IN the C Street house. While the wifeys who bear the children may not be among the Chosen, apparently the girlfriends often are. (This is "The Fountainhead" DC-style.)
Somebody, please, at least TAX these freaks!
July 17, 2009 7:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I dunno; I think they're over-compensating with all this "normal" hetero affair stuff. Clearly this is a PR campaign to convince the general public -- after Foley/boy pages, Craig/gay anonymous bathroom sex, Vitter/diaper fetish, Strom's jungle fever, etc -- that they're just regular 'ol horny dudes who have needs, like you and me.
July 17, 2009 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Okay. I am as sick of contemptible, hypocritical conservative Republican politicians as the rest of you, but that lawsuit was complete bullshit.
"Alienation of Affection"? Come on, Mrs Pickering. You're contending that Creekmore-Byrd "stole" your husband? She didn't "steal" your husband, he left you by his own choice. HE chose to have an affair and leave the marriage. HE chose and HE, alone, is responsible for his actions. No "other woman" can force a husband to do things that HE doesn't want to do. HE is married to you and it is to you that HE owes his allegiance. If HE chose not to stay within his vows to you, that was HIS choice.
No one - "other woman" or "other man" - can "steal" someone who doesn't want to be stolen.
Join the 21st century.
July 17, 2009 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Zack Wamp, TN congressman is also part of C street & he told the Knoxville News Sentinel he would not reveal anything that happened in the house. No wonder.
First, I thought C-street was a frat house. Later, when it was registered as a “church”, I thought it was a cult. Seems like it’s both- a religious cult for frat boys. They can carry on with their sordid lives by day and return to the house to repent.
July 17, 2009 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess these guys were anticipating a religious experience at the Animal House?
July 17, 2009 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
From a blogger over at Political Wire:
While engaged in the affair with Creekore Byrd, Pickering said of President Bill Clinton:
“I think for the good of the country and the good of his own family it would be better for him to resign. When someone puts himself forward for public office, then his personal conduct does become relevant.” [Washington Times, 8/20/98]
July 17, 2009 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's nothing sinister about the C Street Fellowship. The group just believes that "love thy neighbor" trumps the Ten Commandments if you're rich, white, male and Republican.
See:
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/c-street-sex-scandal
July 18, 2009 1:19 AM | Reply | Permalink