ATLANTA — Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson revealed Friday that he has suffered from depression since his marriage began to unravel 2 1/2 years ago and said he tried to commit suicide.
"My depression became so severe that I took substantial steps to do harm to myself and to take my own life," the Republican said in a statement released by the House Communications office. Richardson could not be immediately reached for comment.
Richardson was seen outside the state Capitol late Friday as he climbed into a waiting car. No other details about the suicide attempt were provided.
In the statement, the Hiram Republican said he has struggled with depression since his separation and divorce from his wife, Susan.
Richardson has remained silent on his personal life after ethics allegations surfaced that he had had an "inappropriate relationship" with a female utility lobbyist in 2007. A complaint from Georgia Democrats charged the relationship took place at the same time Richardson was co-sponsoring a bill that would have authorized a $300 million pipeline being sought by her employer. The complaint was dismissed by a legislative ethics panel.
The fiery House speaker has been at the center of tumult at the state Capitol in recent years and survived a challenge for his gavel in 2008 launched by a Republican lawmaker who questioned his temperament
At the end of the 2008 legislative session, Richardson angrily called for the ouster of Casey Cagle after the lieutenant governor helped kill his tax cut plan. In 2007, Richardson accused Perdue of showing his "backside" after the governor vetoed a tax cut championed by Richardson and his allies.
In the 2009 session, he was far more subdued, rarely speaking to the press.
Richardson helped engineer the GOP takeover of the House in 2004 and won the speaker's post soon afterward. He's the first Republican to lead the chamber since Reconstruction.
Gov. Sonny Perdue was in Germany visiting troops and was unavailable for comment Friday.
Jaillene Hunter, a spokeswoman for Cagle, said he had reached out to Richardson and was "praying for him and his family."
There was no word on whether Richardson intended to continue in his role as House speaker.
But Republican lawmakers rallied around their leader. He revealed news of the attempt in a conference call with the GOP caucus late Friday.
"At this time my thoughts and prayers are with him," said state Rep. Ben Harbin, of Evans.
State Rep. David Ralston, who tried to unseat Richardson in 2008, called his announcement "very sad news."
"Any talk about the future is impolitic right now," the Blue Ridge Republican said.
In the statement, Richardson said he felt compelled to speak out "in order to possibly help others."
Minutes after word of his suicide attempt was released by the House Communications Office, a suicide prevention group released its own statement.
"We hope his courage will bring much needed awareness to this public health crisis," Christina Owens, area director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Metro Atlanta said.
