Former Illinois congressman Mel Reynolds has been arrested in Zimbabwe, an immigration official said on Tuesday, after state media reported the convicted sex offender had been found with pornography at a local hotel.
Police and immigration officials were investigating Reynolds for living in the southern African country without a valid visa, Francis Mabika, an assistant regional immigration officer, told Reuters.
Mabika said Reynolds has been in Zimbabwe since November, but declined to give further details.
~ snip ~
The state-owned Herald newspaper said the former Illinois congressman had been arrested at a hotel in the capital Harare on Monday, where he had been found in possession of pornographic videos and pictures.
Possession of pornography is a crime in Zimbabwe.
He had also run up $24,500 in unpaid hotel bills, the newspaper said.
Mel Reynolds served as an Illinois congressman from 1993 to 1995.
In 1994, the sitting congressman was indicted for sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse for a relationship with a 16-year-old volunteer during his 1992 campaign. Reynolds was convicted in 1995 on sexual assault and solicitation of child pornography charges and resigned on October 1st of the same year.
While serving a five-year prison sentence, Reynolds was convicted of 15 unrelated counts of bank fraud and lying to SEC investigators, adding 78 months to his prison term. His sentence was commuted by President Bill Clinton in 2001.
Reynolds attempted a political comeback in the 2004 race for a U.S. House of Representatives seat, but was soundly defeated by Jesse Jackson Jr. in the Democratic primary.
In 2012, The ex-representative made a attempt at his former seat after Jackson resigned, running in a primary race under the slogan "Redemption".
This guy can't be from Illinois! :lmao:
Why? What makes him any different than any other Illinois (Dhimmi'Rat) politician you're aware of? :fuelfire:
Corruption and crime is not limited to democrats in Illinois. :whistling:
I hear they have nice prisons.....nice enough for this guy anyway.
True, but I seem to recall a couple of RELATIVELY honest (by comparison) politicians/sacrificial victims that have run against the Dem machine (and usually gotten their reputations destroyed and asses handed to them for their troubles) in recent years. I can't think of any off the top of my head, but...
That is happening right now with their governor's race.
http://www.forwardprogressives.com/illinois-republican-gubernatorial-candidate-scandal-gay-sex-threats-abuse-taxpayer-funds/
Even the mere hint that Rutherford might be someone who’s engaged in some kind of homosexual behavior will most likely be enough to steer plenty of bigoted Republican voters away from him and toward other candidates.
(http://img.ksl.com/apimage/492c9a08-22a8-4bdd-9667-12437561339d.jpg?filter=ksl/story_635)
Zimbabwe judge dismisses charge against ex-US rep (http://www.ksl.com/?nid=235&sid=28756335&title=zimbabwe-judge-dismisses-charge-against-ex-us-rep)
By Gillian Gotora, Associated Press | February 21st, 2014 @ 8:07am
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - A Zimbabwean magistrate on Friday dismissed charges... (http://www.ksl.com/?nid=235&sid=28756335&title=zimbabwe-judge-dismisses-charge-against-ex-us-rep)
Damn.
I guess Reynolds will return to the U.S. and run for office again. Remember folks, this type of behavior is a resume enhancement for Democrats.