Former NC senator settles lawsuit with man who accused him of breaking up marriage

Former state Sen. Rick Gunn has settled a lawsuit filed by a man who accused him of a long-running affair with his wife, who was also the senator's legislative assistant.

Posted 8:20 p.m. Mar 9, 2021 — Updated 8:43 p.m. Mar 9, 2021

Travis Fain

, WRAL statehouse reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Former state Sen. Rick Gunn has settled a lawsuit filed by a man who accused him of a long-running affair with his wife, who was also the senator's legislative assistant.

Arthur Johns says the affair destroyed his marriage and that he lost half his property in a divorce. He sued Gunn, an Alamance County Republican, for as much as $3 million.

It was not immediately clear how much Johns would get in the settlement. His attorney confirmed the settlement to WRAL News but wouldn't provide details.

In the lawsuit filed last summer, Johns alleges that his wife, Karen Johns, had an affair with Gunn for up to four years. General Assembly insiders told WRAL that their affair was a poorly kept secret.

Arthur Johns said his wife began spending more and more time with Gunn over the years, going out for things that didn't sound like work. Eventually, the lawsuit states, she began treating Gunn more like a husband.

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