587: Mark Samsel – Republican Sexual Predators

Mark Samsel was a Kansas state representative. He also worked as a substitute teacher until one day he began ranting about god, the Bible, suicide, and masturbation. In the midst of this, he kicked a student in the groin. Another student captured it on camera.

The student had put ear buds in while Samsel was telling students of an (imaginary?) Black student who attempted suicide because he had two mothers. He pushed him against the wall and kicked him in the testicles. Incredibly, he explained the incident as part of a planned lecture to teach students to be kinder to each other.

He avoided jail time under a plea deal pleading to disorderly conduct rather than battery. He got a year’s probation. He surrendered his teaching license and lost his re-election primary.