JAILED VIRGINIA LAWMAKER CHARGED WITH FORGERY, PERJURY

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

BY LARRY O'DELL AND ALAN SUDERMAN

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A Virginia lawmaker who was just re-elected despite being jailed for a sex scandal with a teenager has been indicted on four new felony charges.

The forgery and perjury indictment of Del. Joseph D. Morrissey was returned the day before that election and unsealed Wednesday in Henrico County Circuit Court.

The lawmaker now stands accused of forging a document he vouched for in court, and persuading the girl's mother to swear to its authenticity as well. That woman, Deidre Warren, also was indicted on perjury and forgery charges. Morrissey faces up to 10 years on each count if convicted, special prosecutor William J. Neely said.

Morrissey, an attorney known as "Fighting Joe" since his 1993 courthouse fistfight with another lawyer, said the charges are false and vowed to beat them.

FULL story at link. (four-term Democrat)



AP Photo/Steve Helber

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DISGRACED_LAWMAKER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-01-21-20-44-04

[riversedge]

1. Actually he is a Dem --turned independent ....

Whatever---he should step aside....


........After his conviction, the four-term Democrat announced his resignation under pressure from his colleagues and then angered them by running as an independent in the special election called to choose his successor. He won that election last week, defeating a Republican and a Democrat just before the start of the General Assembly session.

Technically the most junior member of the House because of his resignation and re-election, Morrissey has been moved to a desk in a far corner of the chamber. His colleagues largely ignore him. House Speaker William J. Howell stripped Morrissey of his committee assignments, and legislative leaders from both parties are debating whether to censure or expel him.

"This is a truly painful and embarrassing chapter for the oldest continuously operating legislative body in the New World," Howell said after learning of the new charges. "The House will evaluate these new indictments as it pertains to disciplinary action."..........

[Ken Burch]

2. Why did his district re-elect him as an independent?

What would his remaining personal popularity be based on?

You'd think the voters, having elected him as a Dem, would want an actual Dem to succeed him.

[OldRedneck]

3. You assume the people who voted for him have good sense

He may be a lying, perverted, cheating, stealing POS SOB -- but he's OUR SOB and we love him.