A Wake County man sued retiring state Sen. Rick Gunn this week, accusing him of a long-running affair with his wife, who is also the senator's legislative assistant.
Arthur Johns says the affair destroyed his marriage and that he's losing half his property in a divorce that's nearly final after a year. He's suing Gunn for as much as $3 million.
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"I didn't want this to happen," Johns said Thursday. "It's just unfortunate."
The lawsuit alleges that the affair has been going on since at least 2016. Johns' wife, Karen Johns, is Gunn's legislative assistant in Raleigh, and General Assembly insiders said Thursday 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.
Gunn, R-Alamance, is sometimes called "Senator Funn" at the General Assembly, in part because he carries legislation to loosen alcohol and gambling restrictions. In a brief telephone interview Friday, he called the lawsuit "baseless and hurtful" and said he disagreed with the allegations. He wouldn't get into specifics.
"In light of the pending court proceedings, I will have no further comment," Gunn said.
Messages sent to Karen Johns seeking comment were not returned.
Gunn, who is in his fifth term, announced last fall that he wouldn't seek re-election, saying he wanted to focus more on his family and business. He's supposed to be in Raleigh next week for a short legislative session on the state budget.
Arthur Johns said he once considered Gunn, who is married, a friend. The Johns and the Gunns spent time together, including during a lake house weekend where Arthur Johns says he picked up on a weird vibe between his wife and the senator.
Among other things, he said, they were wrestling in the water.
"He thinks the world is like a fraternity," Arthur Johns said. "He's 'Senator Funn.' It's fun for a while, but when you ruin somebody's lives .... My boys are used to having a family and doing things together. It's not fun."
The lawsuit claims alienation of affection, and North Carolina is one of only a handful of states where people can sue their spouses' alleged lovers like this. Among other things, the eight-page suit claims Gunn and Karen Johns "attempted to use defendant's office to destroy plaintiff's reputation and to embarrass and humiliate him publicly."
That, Arthur Johns said, is a reference to last year, when he came to the Legislative Building on a Sunday looking for his wife. He suspected she was having an affair, and Johns said he was "shaking" as he drove downtown.
He spoke to police at the building entrance. Later that day, General Assembly police apparently circulated his picture so officers could look out for him.
Johns' attorney, Richard Gantt, provided an email chain that went to building security saying Johns was "visibly upset" and that "domestic violence has been present in their relationship, but no DV papers have been filed." The email also notes that Arthur "currently has no criminal record."
The email said Johns has a concealed carry permit and typically keeps a firearm in his vehicle. It tells officers that, if he shows up, "he is to be monitored closely and notifications sent through the proper channels." It includes a picture that Johns says appears to be from the state Division of Motor Vehicles.
The General Assembly has its own police force, and Chief Martin Brock largely declined to discuss the incident, saying he doesn't address security issues at the building. But Brock did say he didn't think Gunn asked for Johns' picture to be circulated. He also said Johns was never banned from the building or asked not to enter.
Arthur Johns said Gunn told him about the picture circulating and threatened him with domestic violence accusations.
A Wake County court records check showed no domestic violence or criminal accusations against Arthur Johns.
Several members of the legislature's Republican majority announced their retirement this cycle, and Gunn is the second whose announcement was followed by revelations of legal trouble. Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett, pleaded guilty this week to federal crimes related to campaign finance violations.