JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Former Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton [pictured] plans to defend himself before a federal grand jury investigating the way he handled legislation that would have imposed new taxes and regulations on sexually oriented businesses.

Jetton said he intends to testify Wednesday in Kansas City before a grand jury looking into allegations that Jetton tried to stifle the legislation in exchange for porn-industry contributions to a political committee.

“When I first learned of this inquiry, I contacted the investigators and told them I would be happy to answer any questions about this issue,” Jetton said in a written statement Saturday to The Associated Press. “I do plan on attending the grand jury.”

Jetton, a Republican from southeast Missouri whose term ended in January 2009, already faces a felony assault charge in state court stemming from a sexual encounter with a woman last fall. He has pleaded not guilty to that. He also denies any wrongdoing related to his handling of the adult entertainment legislation.

But after testifying before the grand jury last month, state Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Lee’s Summit, told reporters he believes there was a link between a $35,000 political donation and Jetton’s decision to send the bill to a House committee whose chairman opposed it.

At issue is Bartle’s 2005 bill that would have imposed new taxes and fees on strip clubs, adult movie houses and other sexually oriented business. The bill also would have required those businesses to close by midnight and banned people younger than 21, customer tipping and full nudity. Semi-nude employees would have been required to remain on a raised stage out of customers’ reach.