– The last couple days were surely difficult for Rep. Jeremy Lafaver – the story about his marijuana possession charge broke, and the media floodgates began to open.

But for Lafaver, the worst is over.

LaFaver has thus far handled the crisis appropriately, doing all he needed to do in his initial statement. First, he took responsibility; there would be no “Bitch set me up” from him. Second, he apologized effusively. Third, he stressed that he was not driving under the influence. Finally, he assured people that he neither received nor would seek any special treatment.

Assuming all that is true and no further details emerge – and we have no reason to believe otherwise – Lafaver should emerge from this dustup with his career intact. Why?
First of all, marijuana possession, while a crime, is one that many people don’t believe should be a crime. Cocaine or meth would be a different story.

Second, he didn’t try to blame the cops, or the prosecutor, or the Republicans, or some childhood trauma. People hate leaders who pass the buck, but LaFaver accepted responsibility without mincing words.

Third, he got his statement out quickly and did not allow the story to fester without a response.

Fourth and most importantly, LaFaver told the truth. Anthony Weiner didn’t get ostracized by fellow Democrats because he sexted pictures of his junk to random females. He got ostracized because he lied to his colleagues, lied to the press, made up a story about being hacked, and even paid a firm $45,000 to investigate his own lie. That is to say, he lost the trust of the people around him, and of the people who filter his message to the rest of the world. And when he became a liability to his party, no one had his back.

By immediately resigning from his leadership position as head of the House Democratic Victory Committee, LaFaver sought a lower profile in attempt not to become a liability. Sure, Republicans will clamor for his resignation for a few days. But then, the story will fade. LaFaver will work extra hard in his district and in the legislature to make amends for his mistake, and he’ll be a better public servant for it.

It may even be a blessing for him that he is no longer chairing the HDVF. Outgoing party chair Mike Sanders had suggested the party could gain 6-12 seats next year – which won’t be easy in the sixth year of a presidency that isn’t very popular in Missouri. He’ll have much more time now to master the legislative process and potentially get things done for his constituents.

So, don’t write Jeremy LaFaver’s political obituary just yet. He’ll do his penance, and people will rubberneck this week. But the 24 hours after the story broke suggest that he’s savvy enough to survive this. Perhaps most importantly, the bright, young legislator will learn who his friends are – something that isn’t always easy in a business where everyone is “my good friend.”

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Jeff Smith is a former state senator who resigned from office after a felony conviction and served a year in federal prison. Now, Smith is an assistant professor of politics and advocacy at the New School. He recently co-authored The Recovering Politician’s Twelve- Step Program to Survive Crisis.