US senator apologizes for sex scandal

METARIE, Louisiana, July 16 (Reuters) A Republican US senator who admitted to ''serious sin'' after he was linked last week to a Washington escort service apologidsed for the sex scandal, but said he will go back to work.

Sen. David Vitter, a social conservative who has routinely touted family values, said his undescribed sins occurred several years ago, implying that his misdeeds were behind him.

He accused enemies of dredging up the scandal to hurt him.

Vitter, who had stayed out of sight the past week, said yesterday he was going back to Washington immediately, giving no hint he might resign the office he won in 2004.

''No matter how long ago it was I know this has hurt the relationship of trust I have with so many of you,'' said Vitter, whose wife, Wendy, stood beside him. ''I'm completely responsible and I'm so very, very sorry.'' ''Wendy and I dealt with this personally several years ago.

I confronted it in confession and marriage counseling, I believe I received forgiveness from God, I know I did from Wendy,'' said the 46-year-old father of four.

His wife said: ''Like all marriages, ours is not perfect.

''I forgave David. I made the decision to love him and recommit to our marriage.'' They spoke to reporters at a hotel in Metarie, a New Orleans suburb, then walked out without taking questions.

Vitter's phone number was found five times in phone records dating from 1999 to 2001 for ''DC Madam'' Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who is accused of running a prostitution ring in Washington, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported last week.

Palfrey has said she operated a legal escort service.

Vitter issued a statement on July 9 admitting to ''a very serious sin in my past,'' then went into seclusion.

MORE ALLEGATIONS During the past week, former New Orleans madam Jeanette Maier said Vitter was a customer at her Canal Street bordello in the late 1990s, and another woman identified as Wendy Cortez told the New Orleans paper Vitter had been her regular client several years ago.

''Unfortunately, my admission has encouraged some long-time political enemies and those profiting from the situation to spread falsehoods,'' Vitter said. ''Those stories are not true.'' The allegations have stunned many in Louisiana because Vitter, a Harvard graduate and Rhodes scholar, has been a highly visible social conservative who championed family values and ardently opposed abortion and gay marriage.

In contrast to roguish Louisiana politicians of the past, he portrayed himself as a squeaky-clean reformer against immorality and corruption.

Vitter went to Washington in 1999 after winning a special election to replace Rep. Bob Livingston, who had resigned in a sex scandal.

Republican leaders have mostly been quiet or given lukewarm support to Vitter, but there have been scattered calls for his resignation.

''If he doesn't resign, the Republican Party will lose the moral high ground,'' said Vincent Bruno, a member of the Louisiana Republicans state executive committee. ''We have portrayed ourselves as being the moral party.'' But political analysts say a Vitter resignation is unlikely for now because Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat, would likely appoint a Democrat to replace him.

That would add to the Democrats' slim margin in the Senate, which the party now controls 51-49.

Reuters JK VP0505