

Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Red Wing) and Rep. Tara Mack (R-Apple Valley). (Minnesota House of Representatives via AP)

Last month, a park ranger in Minnesota issued citations to a man and a woman, who, he reported, were "making out" in a car.

The reason you're reading about that encounter here, on a Washington Post political blog, is because the man and woman who received the public nuisance citations are Minnesota state lawmakers.

They're denying the ranger's account, which was noted in court records.

State Reps. Tim Kelly and Tara Mack, both Republicans, were issued citations following an incident that allegedly occurred on Aug. 25 in a park in Eagan, Minn., according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

[Politician reportedly leaked fake male prostitution e-mails to hide his real affair]

"The two, who are married to other people, were in Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan when they were allegedly spotted by the officer 'making out' in a parked car about 4:30 p.m., according to documents," the Pioneer Press reported." The officer's notes claim Mack was half undressed when he approached the vehicle."

In fact, according to the Pioneer Press, "the ranger's notes in court records said Mack's pants were unzipped and pulled down." (You can see images of the citation notes here.)

"Absolutely these are the facts; he has no reason to lie," Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie said. "He doesn't know who these people are. They didn't identify themselves as legislators."

Mack and Kelly issued separate statements about the park ranger's report, with Kelly calling it "an absolute lie," and Mack describing the ranger's statements as "egregious and false."

"I was driving down to Red Wing through Eagan last Tuesday and met Rep. Mack to pick up some documents regarding South Country Health Alliance," Kelly said in his statement. "When we met, a park ranger approached my vehicle and told me I was double-parked. I disputed his characterization and got out of the car to take a picture. He became visibly agitated and returned to his own car.

"Approximately ten minutes later, he returned to my vehicle with a parking ticket citing a nuisance. When I asked what that meant, he responded 'whatever I want it to mean.'"

Both Mack and Kelly said they planned to file complaints, though Leslie said he had not yet received one by mid-day Thursday.

"I'm not sure if they're serious about that or not," he said.

This post has been updated.

Read More:

That time ‘Sesame Street’ trolled Donald Trump

Nikki Haley’s race speech: What it said — and what it didn’t