A state senator Tuesday called an accusation about his marriage a lie and said his accuser, Sooner Tea Party co-founder Al Gerhart, is a bully.

“It just makes me sick. He has no shame,” Sen. Cliff Branan told The Oklahoman. “It was a crazy, untrue allegation that was just shameful. We've been happily married for nearly 18 years. … Our marriage is awesome.

“Nothing like that has ever happened. And I think, candidly, he got me confused with somebody else. It's just nuts.”

Gerhart on Tuesday accused Branan of infidelity during a news conference after coming under investigation for an email he sent Branan.