On April 8, Karen Carter Peterson shocked the tight-knit world of Louisiana politics by tendering her resignation from the Louisiana legislature. Although Peterson cited her long struggle with gambling addiction as the central reason for her departure from politics, it was revealed the following day that she is the subject of a federal probe. 

Peterson, who has been a member of the Louisiana legislature since 1999, has long been a central figure in Louisiana state politics. Most recently, Peterson was engaged in a heated head-to-head race for Louisiana’s second congressional district against Troy Carter, which she ultimately lost. 

In her resignation, Peterson said she has struggled with a gambling addiction and depression throughout her time in politics. In part, the statement read: “I must place all of my energy on my own mental health and personal well-being.”