Sen. Alexander's Chief of Staff Ryan Loskarn subject of Child Porn Investigation. Arrested. Fired. David Cleary new Chief of Staff

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) released the following statement:

I was just informed by the United States Senate legal counsel’s office that law enforcement agents are conducting a search of the personal residence of Ryan Loskarn, the chief of staff of my Washington, D.C., office regarding allegations involving child pornography. I am stunned, surprised and disappointed by what I have learned.

The courts will judge Mr. Loskarn’s guilt or innocence, but under these circumstances, he cannot continue to fulfill his duties as chief of staff of this office. Therefore, as of today, I have removed him from the payroll.

I have named David Cleary as my chief of staff. David has worked with me for eight years and fortunately is well-prepared to step into this position.


David Cleary has served as Alexander’s legislative director since 2011 and as Republican staff director for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee since 2012. He has been working with Alexander since 2006. Cleary previously served as a staff member on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce under then-Chairman John Boehner (R-Ohio), and as a legislative analyst for the U.S. Department of Education. Cleary earned a B.A. in Political Science and Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Loskarn, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on probable cause for possession and distribution of child pornography. He will remain in custody and is expected to appear in federal court in D.C. tomorrow. (link)