Virginia lawmaker wins special election while in jail (slept with 17 yr old employee)

[underpants]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/morrissey-in-midst-of-six-month-jail-term-wins-special-election-to-virginia-house/2015/01/13/8676f33a-9b2b-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html

RICHMOND — Joseph D. Morrissey was reelected Tuesday to the House of Delegates, opening another chapter in a made-for-TV-movie-style drama likely to captivate the General Assembly session starting Wednesday.

Running as an independent, Morrissey defeated Democrat Kevin Sullivan and Republican Matt Walton. The heavily Democratic district mostly spans the Richmond suburb of Henrico County.

With all precincts reporting, Morrissey won 42 percent of the vote, Sullivan 33 percent and Walton 24 percent, according to unofficial results.

Voters were apparently unmoved by Morrissey’s plea last month on a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which stemmed from his relationship with a 17-year-old receptionist at his law office. The 57-year-old lawmaker maintained his innocence while entering a guilty plea to avoid a possible conviction on felony charges.

[randys1]

1. Teapartier? If so this makes perfect sense...Again, mass murderers are electable by Teaparty

so this guy was a shoe in

[FSogol]

2. No, he was a Democrat. He ran as an independent this time. n/t

[randys1]

4. That sucks then...

[underpants]

3. Won election, sex with underage employee, plead, resigned, left Dem party, won as Independent

Last edited Wed Jan 14, 2015, 04:22 PM - Edit history (1)

Years ago he was disbarred after he got in fistfights with a contractor at his home and another lawyer - two different fights. Taught law in England or Ireland. His law license was reinstated. Ran for office and won. Then all this happened.

[MousePlayingDaffodil]

5. Teapartier? Uh, no ...

Morrissey had long held that seat as a Democrat, was basically forced to resign the seat due to his conviction, and won the seat in this special election running as an "independent."

The 74th District of the Virginia House of Delegates is a gerrymandered, "majority black" (i.e., approximately 60% African-American, 33% white) district, and is a very unlikely place -- to say the least -- where a "teapartier" would be expected to do well.

[randys1]

6. That is why I put a question mark there...We are no better than they are

when we elect people like this, I have no idea who this is but seems to set a bad example

[FSogol]

9. We? Do any of us live in that District? He ran as an independent, independents and GOPers

probably voted for him.

[underpants]

13. He has a very loyal following in lower economic income community

He got an incredibly high percentage of their vote.

[ND-Dem]

8. but a place where crooked democrats do well?

[Sunlei]

7. 57 years old!! throw the felony book at the man!

[underpants]

12. He already plead

He could have got delay while the Gen Assembly was in session but he thought he could win. Don't know if it was planned but suddenly he offered a plea - the courtroom was shocked to find out that the girl is now pregnant. Both Morrisey and her claim he is not the father.

[Nye Bevan]

10. Am I a bad person for thinking that while this guy is a total sleaze,

and undoubtedly should lose his re-election bid, he should not necessarily have been sentenced to prison for this? Sleeping with a 17-year old is not even a crime in 39 out of the 50 states, or in DC. Or anywhere in Europe except for Malta, Turkey, and Vatican City.

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_sexual_consent_in_the_United_States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Europe

[underpants]

11. 18 in Virginia