Who Is Richard Silverthorne, Mayor Of Virginia Caught In Sex-For-Meth Sting? Hillary Clinton Supporter Linked To Gay Scandal

A Virginia mayor was arrested in a sex-for-meth sting on Thursday night, ABC reported. The Fairfax County Police said Richard “Scott” Silverthorne, mayor of Fairfax, was apprehended by authorities on Thursday after he gave methamphetamine to undercover detectives at Crown Plaza Hotel near Tysons Corner, Virginia.

The FCPD said in a statement that they received a call regarding a “possible distributor of methamphetamine” who was “allegedly distributing methamphetamine through a website used to arrange casual sexual encounters between men.” Ed O’Carroll, director of the public affairs bureau for Fairfax County Police, said during a press conference Friday that an undercover officer arranged a meeting with Siverthorne on Thursday night after speaking directly with the mayor on the website. According to the undercover officer, Silverthrone agreed to meet him at the hotel and also agreed to provide drugs.

It has yet to be revealed how long the mayor used the website to solicit drugs.

Capt. Jack Hardin of FCPD’s Organized Crime and Narcotics Division said that the mayor only had “one other relationship on the website” other than the new relationship he fostered with the undercover officer.

“Another person was on the website and the mayor and him connected through this website, and met, exchanged methamphetamine for sex,” Hardin explained.

Silverthrone, who is serving his third term as mayor of Fairfax, was charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. His alleged drug suppliers, Juan Jose Fernandez and Caustin Lee McLaughlin, were also arrested. Silverthorne has been released and is scheduled for arraignment for Aug. 10. The other two men are still in custody.

Aside from being a mayor, Silverthrone, who has been an avid supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, also works as a substitute teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. The mayor’s office has yet to release a statement regarding Silverthorne’s arrest.

Read on below for a few other politicians who have found themselves at the epicenter of sex and drug related scandals over the years.

1. Kwame Kilpatrick: Not only did Kilpatrick, former mayor of Detroit, lose his spot in office after his affair with former chief of staff Christine Beatty was outted but he also ended up receiving a 28-year conviction for a slew of racketeering and extortion charges during his tenure.

2. Matt Brown: Former London Mayor Matt Brown recently stepped down from office after his affair with deputy Mayor Maureen Cassidy made headlines in June.

3. Bob Filner: The former San Diego mayor was sentenced to 90 days in home confinement, three years of probation and $1,500 in fines for sexually assaulting three women during campaign events or at City Hall during his reign.

4. Rob Ford: Although he managed to keep his position until he died in 2014, the Toronto mayor was caught on video smoking crack cocaine more than once during his term. He admitted to using the drug but claimed he was not addicted.