Summary

CONVICTED ILLINOIS REPRESENTATIVE MEL REYNOLDS SAYS HE WILL RESIGN HIS CONGRESSIONAL SEAT EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1. THE 43-YEAR OLD CONGRESSMAN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FRIDAY NIGHT ON CNN'S LARRY KING LIVE. THE TWO-TERM DEMOCRAT WAS CONVICTED AUGUST 22 OF AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE, CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE, CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. AS A CONVICTED FELON, REYNOLDS WAS NOT REQUIRED TO FORFEIT HIS SEAT IN THE HOUSE...UNLESS A COLLEAGUE PUSHED THE ISSUE WITH AN EXPULSION RESOLUTION. FORMER CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER BEVERLY HEARD SAID SHE HAD AN AFFAIR WITH REYNOLDS IN 1994 WHEN SHE WAS A 16-YEARS-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. SHE WENT TO POLICE WITH HER ALLEGATIONS BUT THEN RECANTED HER STORY. HEARD SPENT 13 NIGHTS IN JAIL IN CONTEMPT OF COURT FOR REFUSING BEFORE AGREEING TO TESTIFY AGAINST THE CONGRESSMAN. SHE IS NOW 19-YEARS-OLD. CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT CARRIES A MANDATORY MINIMUM FOUR YEARS IN PRISON. REYNOLDS' SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 22.

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 57504
Story Slug FOLO/MEL REYNOLDS RESIGNS (09/02/1995)
Location CHICAGO, IL
Format PKG NO TAG
Date 9/2/1995
Archive Time 29:38
TRT 1:45
Supers Chicago, IL Micheal Wittenberg, 2nd Dist. Resident Jesse Jackson Jr., 2nd Dist. Candidate Kenny Spotts, 2nd Dist. Resident Tina Crosby, 2nd Dist. Resident Mark Mckinnon, 2nd Dist. Resident Tressa Pankovits, Rptg
Video Description MEL REYNOLDS, PEOPLE'S REACTION, SOTS
Description CONVICTED ILLINOIS REPRESENTATIVE MEL REYNOLDS SAYS HE WILL RESIGN HIS CONGRESSIONAL SEAT EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1. THE 43-YEAR OLD CONGRESSMAN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FRIDAY NIGHT ON CNN'S LARRY KING LIVE. THE TWO-TERM DEMOCRAT WAS CONVICTED AUGUST 22 OF AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE, CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE, CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. AS A CONVICTED FELON, REYNOLDS WAS NOT REQUIRED TO FORFEIT HIS SEAT IN THE HOUSE...UNLESS A COLLEAGUE PUSHED THE ISSUE WITH AN EXPULSION RESOLUTION. FORMER CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER BEVERLY HEARD SAID SHE HAD AN AFFAIR WITH REYNOLDS IN 1994 WHEN SHE WAS A 16-YEARS-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. SHE WENT TO POLICE WITH HER ALLEGATIONS BUT THEN RECANTED HER STORY. HEARD SPENT 13 NIGHTS IN JAIL IN CONTEMPT OF COURT FOR REFUSING BEFORE AGREEING TO TESTIFY AGAINST THE CONGRESSMAN. SHE IS NOW 19-YEARS-OLD. CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT CARRIES A MANDATORY MINIMUM FOUR YEARS IN PRISON. REYNOLDS' SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 22.
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