LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – State Representative Mark Lowery of Maumelle, a Republican, has apologized after his name appeared on the Ashley Madison users list that was released by hackers earlier this week.
Ashley Madison is a website for people looking for extramarital sex. Its motto is “Life is short. Have an affair.” Hackers released the personal information of more than 30 million users. Those users include Arkansas lawmakers, doctors, lawyers, radio personalities and church leaders.
According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Lowery was one of two current state lawmakers who appeared on the list. The other was John Baine, a Democrat from El Dorado.
Lowery told the Democrat-Gazette via email that he joined the website after a separation from his former wife.
“As I told supporters when I first announced for office in 2012, I am a flawed individual and I do the best I can each and every day to overcome my personal shortcomings. I regret using this path to seek companionship and fully admit my irresponsible curiosity,” Lowery wrote in a statement released to the paper. “I never met anyone through the site and I never used what are typically portrayed as the more sordid aspects of the site.”
According to the Democrat-Gazette, Baine did not return calls or messages. He announced earlier this week he won’t seek re-election.
An analysis by FOX 16’s Marci Manley and Curtis Lanning late Friday afternoon also found the name of former state lawmaker. FOX16.com plans to give the lawmaker time to respond before releasing the name.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette also reports the name of former Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Donald Corbin appeared on the users lists. Manley and Lanning’s analysis confirmed that report. According to the Democrat-Gazette, Corbin has not responded to requests for a comment.