Peter Kinder and Tammy Chapman. Photo courtesey of the Riverfront Times.
By Mike Rush
St. Louis (KSDK) - Bizarre and untrue. That's how Missouri's lieutenant governor is characterizing reports linking him to a former stripper and Penthouse model. In a written statement released Thursday, Peter Kinder broke his silence on the issue.
In that statement, Kinder, who's widely believed to be mounting a campaign to run for governor, blamed the current governor Jay Nixon and the democratic party for making up false stories about him.
Kinder wrote, "Like most people I am not proud of every place I have been but this woman's bizarre story is not true."
The woman is Tammy Chapman, a St. Louis bartender now, but a one-time topless dancer and Penthouse model in the 90's.
Last week, the Riverfront Times published a picture of Kinder and Chapman posing in a bar. Chapman says the photo was taken earlier this year at a bar in The Grove neighborhood.
But Chapman claims she frequently encountered the then state senator at a strip club in the metro east in the 90s.
"He would come in on every Monday. He became one of my best customers," said Chapman.
She was a topless dancer and said Kinder, who's never been married, frequently bought lap dances from her. Kinder's spokesperson confirms that's where they met.
Chapman claims she eventually refused to dance for him because of aggressive advances. Chapman also accuses Kinder of releasing this picture.
"Perhaps it's for publicity, seriously, that could be the only reason for it," said Chapman.
In his statement, Kinder went on to say, "The Democrats have tried to use these tactics against me in the past and they have failed."
Newschannel 5 Reporter Mike Rush asked, "Are you in any way tied in with the democrats or the governor?"
Chapman responded, "No, no, no, absolutely not. I don't like politics."
"So nobody from the Democratic Party put you up to telling a story?" Rush said.
"No, I promise, no," said Chapman.
Chapman claims to have several letters Kinder wrote to her, but she would not show them to us.
KSDK