US Democrat mayor arrested over alleged meth-for-sex scheme
Scott Silverthorne built a reputation as a civic pillar of Fairfax City, Virginia, over three decades, helping bring a park to the affluent suburb’s downtown and championing other improvements during three terms as mayor.
But even as he was the public face of the city, police said the 50-year-old was privately leading another life online: using a website to swap the drug methamphetamine for sex with other men.
You can spend 30 years building up your reputation and lose it in 30 minutes
Those seemingly incongruous sides of Silverthorne burst into public view on Friday, as Fairfax County police announced the Democratic elected official had been charged following a sting in which they said he agreed to give an undercover officer the drug in exchange for an orgy at a Tysons hotel.
The arrest marked a stunning downfall for Silverthorne, who had followed his own father into the mayor’s office, recently beaten cancer and coped with the loss of his job and house. Through text messages, Silverthorne declined to discuss the charges.
The news shocked residents and city officials, and clouded the future of projects Silverthorne was pushing. City Councilman Jeffrey Greenfield was appointed acting mayor of the city of 23,500 residents, which is 32km west of Washington.
“The sad thing is you can spend 30 years building up your reputation and lose it in 30 minutes,” said city councilman David Meyer. “I think I can speak collectively that we’re concerned for the future of the city as well, but the city is greater than one person and we’re going to persevere.”