Republican congressman fined $500 over sexual misconduct

Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN) was fined on Thursday in connection to inappropriate sexual affairs with his patients.

Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners hit the pro-life Republican and doctor with a $500 fine and reprimand. The medical ethics board held DesJarlais violated Tennessee law by having affairs with at least two woman while serving as their physician more than a decade ago.

“I take responsibility for past mistakes and am happy to get this resolved,” DesJarlais told The Tennessean.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed the medical complaint against DesJarlais in 2012 after several news reports detailed the affairs. Desjarlais was accused of pressuring one of the women into get an abortion. The other woman said DesJarlais prescribed her unnecessary pain medication and smoked marijuana with her.

CREW said the fine was just a slap on the wrist.

"There are more expensive traffic tickets. Tennessee authorities apparently believe sexual exploitation of women is less serious than speeding," remarked CREW executive director Melanie Sloan.