Lawsuit accuses NC senator of affair with legislative aide that broke up her marriage
A lawsuit accuses a North Carolina state senator of breaking up a marriage by having an affair with his legislative assistant.
Arthur Johns’ lawsuit accuses Sen. Rick Gunn of having an affair with Johns’ wife, Karen, leading to their divorce.
The five-term senator, a Burlington Republican, is not seeking re-election. He announced that decision in November 2019, four months after the Johnses divorced.
WRAL first reported on the lawsuit. Johns’ attorney, Richard Gantt, confirmed to The News & Observer the lawsuit was filed Monday.
“The lawsuit is baseless and hurtful, and I disagree with these allegations but in light of the pending court proceedings I will refrain from further comment,” Gunn said on Friday when the N&O reached him by phone Friday.
In legal terms, Gunn is being sued for alienation of affection and criminal conversation. North Carolina is one of a small number of states that allow lawsuits on claims of alienation of affection and criminal conversation based on affairs. The legislature has tried unsuccessfully to change the law, and some lawsuits have led to major financial penalties.
The lawsuit does not make any allegations that the relationship between Gunn and Karen Johns was not consensual.
Alleged affair
Karen and Arthur Johns married on April 9, 1994, and have two biological children. Karen Johns also has another child who considers Arthur Jones as his father, the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit describes the marriage as loving and supportive before Gunn’s involvement and says the Johnses had accumulated substantial wealth and property.
The lawsuit says Gunn employed Karen Johns until recently. She has worked in the legislature as a legislative assistant since 2011, according to her LinkedIn profile.
As Gunn’s legislative assistant, she was encouraged to spend time with the senator outside his working hours, respond to his constant communication immediately and travel alone with him, the lawsuit alleges.
Arthur Johns believes a sexual affair happened between his wife and Gunn when they traveled for long periods of time alone in Burlington, Raleigh and Asheboro, the lawsuit states.
The documents further state that Gunn would invite Karen Johns to social events but exclude her husband.
Court documents say that Karen Johns began hiding her communication with Gunn and financial transactions from her husband.
Gunn is also accused in the lawsuit of using his office as senator to destroy Arthur Johns’ reputation and publicly embarrass and humiliate him.
Johns said he suffered both physical and mental distress because of the affair and has sought treatment for both. It also affected his job, the court documents state.
He said he suffered damages between $30,000 and $1 million because of the affair.
Republican Amy Galey and Democrat J.D. Wooten will face off in the general election for Gunn’s Senate District 24 seat.
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This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Lawsuit accuses NC senator of affair with legislative aide that broke up her marriage."
