Report: Montco GOP Chairman Accused of Sexual Assault

Montgomery County Republican Committee Chairman Robert Kerns, of Upper Gwynedd Township, has been accused of sexual assault of a woman in October and is now under investigation, according to multiple sources.

Philly.com reported that Kerns allegedly got drunk on Oct. 25 and sexually assaulted a female with whom he worked.

The alleged incident occurred just one night after the Montgomery County Republican Committee Fall Reception, where Gov. Tom Corbett announced a truce between warring factions of Montgomery County GOP.

NBC10 reports investigators have been to Kerns' home and to his Wissahickon Avenue law firm in Upper Gwynedd.

He has not yet been charged, as of Wednesday evening.

Kerns is the solicitor of Upper Gwynedd Township, among others. His firm is Kerns, Pearlstine, Onorato and Hladik, LLP.

Kerns was elected the county GOP chairman in 2008 after multiple failed attempts at the position. He ran unopposed for re-election in 2010.

He had a successful run in his early years as chairman, including winning six of seven judgeships in Montgomery County in 2009.

Kerns' success began to slide in the 2011 endorsement process. After the 2011 General Election, committee members petitioned to have Kerns removed as the leader of the organization, but they didn't win.

Kerns' term ends December 2014, though he is expected to resign if charges are filed. Republican leaders are said to already be discussing Kearns' successors as chairman.