A top Iowa lawmaker is resigning hours after a video that appears to show him kissing a lobbyist at a bar was published on a political website on Monday.The 52-second video shows what appears to be Iowa Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix and a woman, reportedly a lobbyist, sitting side by side at a bar in Des Moines. The two laugh together, and at one point the woman leans over and kisses Dix, who is married with three children.The woman has worked for “various municipality groups,” according to the political website, Iowa Starting Line, leading to concerns she may have been influencing the state politician.After meeting with lawmakers, Dix resigned at 2 p.m. local time."I believe he made the right decision for himself and for his district, but most importantly, I believe he made the decision in the best interest of his family," Senate president, Jack Whitver said in a statement.In her weekly press briefing, Iowa governor Republican Kim Reynolds said she hadn’t directly spoken with Dix but was disappointed by what she had learned."Iowans hold their elected officials to a high standard. They expect us to lead, and I expect to lead," Reynolds said. "But I want to know the facts. I’m extremely disappointed with what I’m hearing, but until I have an opportunity to hear his story I’m not going to comment."The state senator had already drawn scrutiny in previous months over a sexual harassment claim by former communications director Kristen Anderson, which ended in a $1.75 million settlement.The vote to elect a new Iowa Senate Majority Leader is scheduled for March 14.
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