Defying Republican leader, Rep. Vance McAllister says he won't resign

WASHINGTON - House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., has told Louisiana Rep. Vance McAllister he should resign in the wake of a video showing him kissing a married female aide, but the embattled Republican husband and father says he won't give up his seat.

"I'm not going to run away. And I believe that I'm not going to leave my district voiceless again for the second time," McAllister said Tuesday after meeting with Cantor, R-Va. A Cantor spokesman said the majority leader told McAllister he should step down.

"I am committed to serving the 5th District to the best of my ability through this term, but I also have to take care of my family as we work together to repair and strengthen the relationship I damaged," McAllister told the Monroe News-Star Monday.

Dec. 23 surveillance footage released earlier this month showed McAllister at his Monroe district office in a lengthy liplock with his part-time scheduler, who's since "voluntarily resigned." The news proffered a starkly different characterization of a man who ahead of his election last fall ran multiple campaign ads trumpeting his faith and family.

Cantor spokesman Rory Cooper said the majority leader believes that Republicans should hold themselves to a high moral standard and that McAllister's conduct didn't meet that standard.

Cantor's comments were first reported by Politico.

McAllister was elected to Congress last year after Rodney Alexander, R-La., resigned to join Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's cabinet. Alexander said Monday he will not seek election to Congress.