A leader of one of the area's largest Republican parties resigns one day after NBC10 revealed that he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman.
"The Montgomery County Republican Committee (MCRC) today received the resignation of its chairman, Robert J. Kerns," the organization's director, John Kelemen, said in a statement released late this afternoon.
The statement went on to say that the party had no comment on media reports "related to a possible criminal investigation of Mr. Kerns unrelated to his duties as chairman."
Kerns is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in late October, according to sources close to the investigation who did not want to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the case. The alleged assault took place in King of Prussia.
A team of law enforcement investigators were inside Kerns' Montgomery County law office Wednesday morning. Our requests for comment from Kerns have gone unanswered, as well as requests for comment and information from Risa Vetri-Ferman, the Montgomery County District Attorney, also a Republican.
Kerns has been involved in Montgomery County politics for over 30 years, according to the county party's website. Along his now former duties as the county's Republican Committee chairman, Kerns also serves on the board of directors for several community groups including the North Penn Symphony Orchestra and the Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale.
A Philadelphia attorney did confirm with NBC10 that he was hired to represent Kerns. He also declined our request for comment on the nature of the case.
