While Sen. David Vitter from Louisiana is well-known as a staunch family values conservative who has been a strong supporter of abstinence education programs, many Beltway insiders are just now realizing that his involvement with Deborah Jeane Palfrey’s escort service was not his first romp in the sex scandal sack.

In fact, in 1999 Vitter was accused by a New Orleans prostitute, Wendy Cortez, of having a nearly year-long affair with her. She reportedly met him regularly under the alias “Leah” in a small apartment on the corner of Dumaine and Dauphine Streets in New Orleans.

When confronted by the allegations in 2004, the year he won his Senate seat, Vitter said: “I think you know that that allegation is absolutely and completely untrue…I have said that on numerous occasions…I’ll say that in any forum…Unfortunately, that’s just crass Louisiana politics, now that I am running for the Senate. I have made that clear that it is all completely untrue…And, it’s obviously politically motivated.”

Despite that denial, some liberal bloggers have theorized that Vitter dropped out of the race for Louisiana governor in 2002 because of the allegation.

With the truth out today regarding his use of the “DC Madam’s” escort service, the Cortez affair is sure to be revisited.