RICHMOND (WSLS 10) - Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey of the 74th District will remain in office in spite of being convicted and jailed in a sex scandal involving a teenage girl.
Democrat Joe Morrissey resigned Tuesday after being convicted in December, 2014 of a misdemeanor in a sex scandal involving a teenage girl. He then decided to run as an independent in Tuesday's special election to fill the vacancy. Morrissey won the special election.
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Legislators from both parties denounced Morrissey as unfit to serve and probably will try to expel him from the House if he wins. Morrissey says the people, not politicians, should decide who will represent them.
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Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) issued the following statement on the results of the special election in Virginia's 74th House of Delegates district:
"Mr. Morrissey's election tonight does not change the fact that his actions fall grievously short of the standards of a public servant in the House of Delegates. As Speaker, I have an obligation to faithfully and impartially discharge my duties as presiding officer and a responsibility to protect the honor and integrity of the House of Delegates as an institution. There are a number of options available to the body to address questions of conduct regarding its members. These options are set out in the Constitution of Virginia and the rules of the House. Working with House Minority Leader David Toscano and other members of the House, we will begin the process of assessing these options in order to determine the appropriate path forward."
His opponents were Democrat Kevin Sullivan and Republican Matt Walton.
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Morrissey, a Henrico County lawyer, is serving a six-month jail term for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He has denied any wrongdoing.