Sen. Lamar Alexander's chief of staff is on leave without pay after allegations involving child pornography.
The Justice Department confirmed Ryan Loskarn's arrest Wednesday afternoon on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. Loskarn will be arraigned Thursday morning in federal court. (Via WRC-TV)
In a statement Wednesday the Tennessee Republican says he's "stunned, surprised and disappointed" by the allegations against his top aide. (Via YouTube / lamaralexander)
Ryan Loskarn became the senator's chief of staff in 2012, and Politico reports he'd also worked at the Senate Republican Conference and the House Rules Committee.
A senator's chief of staff is his or her top aide and is responsible for overseeing the senator's office and staff. Loskarn had in 2009 been listed one of Roll Call newspaper's "Fabulous 50 Movers and Shakers."
Sen. Alexander says his office is cooperating with the investigation and placed Loskarn on administrative leave without pay immediately after learning of the allegations. (Via C-SPAN)
Loskarn is 35 years old, according to The Tennessean, and is a graduate of Tulane University. It isn't clear what prompted the investigation, and Loskarn hadn't made any public statements as of early afternoon Wednesday.
