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Lawmaker Convicted of Raping 19-Year-Old Intern Gets 20 Years

Aaron von Ehlinger won't be eligible for parole for at least 8 years

(Newser) - Update: The former Idaho lawmaker convicted of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the crime, the AP reports. Aaron von Ehlinger must serve at least eight years before he will be eligible for parole, 4th District Judge Michael Reardon said during the...

Sheriff: Jailed Legislator Smuggled Handcuff Key

Speaker kicks Rep. Jewell Jones off Michigan House committees

(Newser) - A Michigan lawmaker ordered to jail in a drunken driving case is accused of taping a handcuff key to his foot. The key was discovered when state Rep. Jewell Jones, a Detroit-area Democrat, was placed in jail Tuesday for violating bond conditions, authorities said. "He truly believes that he...

California Lawmakers Defend Being in Maui Right Now

They say event at luxury hotel is to discuss how to 'safely reopen our society'

(Newser) - California lawmakers are defending their presence at a Hawaiian conference on "intelligent public policy" regarding COVID-19, but it appears they defied their home state's warnings to go. Four Republicans who attended the bipartisan event—state Sen. Andreas Borgeas and Assembly members Jordan Cunningham, Heath Flora, and Frank Bigelow—...

Respected Doctor-Legislator Busted in Sex-for-Drugs Sting

Long Island's 'Doc' Spencer could face up to 9 years in prison if convicted

(Newser) - A New York doctor and legislator who advocated for opioid addiction prevention is now accused of offering drugs to an undercover officer in exchange for sex. Suffolk County legislator William "Doc" Spencer, 53—also an ordained minister and married father of three—was arrested Tuesday in the parking lot...

Lawmakers Shuffled Millions to Relatives' Causes
Lawmakers Shuffled Millions to Relatives' Causes
investigation

Lawmakers Shuffled Millions to Relatives' Causes

'Washington Post' finds 16 members of Congress engaging in practice

(Newser) - A Washington Post investigation finds that 16 members of Congress have sent tax dollars, sometimes in the millions, to companies or other organizations with links to their family trees. Through direct funding or earmarking, these lawmakers have boosted the budgets of Pentagon programs, environmental groups, schools, and other places where...

Let's Have Halloween on Saturdays: Connecticut State Lawmaker

 Let's Have 
 Halloween 
 on Saturdays 
lawmaker says

Let's Have Halloween on Saturdays

Connecticut state rep says it would boost community spirit

(Newser) - One state lawmaker wants to boost the economy and help out harried parents by legislating that Halloween always falls on a Saturday, the Hartford Courant reports. Connecticut Rep. Tim Larson says having Halloween on the last Saturday in October would also be safer for trick-or-treaters because parents could start earlier...

California Lawmakers Want Right to Pack Heat Now

Measure would let elected officials carry concealed weapons

(Newser) - California state legislators are demanding that laws be eased to allow them to carry concealed weapons because they say their lives are in danger. Under state law, anyone who wants to carry a concealed handgun must apply for a permit and make an argument that they need it for protection....

State Politics: Hotbed of Sleaze, Booze, Scandal

ABC investigation finds no shortage of sleaze at state level

(Newser) - You hear a lot more about the sleaze in Congress and governors' mansions than the sleaze at the state legislator level, but that's not because of a lack of low-down behavior, an ABC News investigation finds. Five grad students sent to cover a national convention of state legislators in Louisville,...

John McCain Is Congress's Twitter King

Arizona senator's following 46 times greater than nearest rival

(Newser) - John McCain is leading the charge of tweeting lawmakers, with 46 times more Twitter followers—a cool 1.7 million —than his nearest competitor, Missouri Democrat Sen. Claire McCaskill. McCain’s popularity also illustrates Republicans’ quick embrace of the social network; twice as many of them tweet, compared to...

S. Korean Parliament Brawls Over Media Bill

(Newser) - Parliamentary debate over the relaxation of media ownership rules in South Korea descended into fisticuffs today, AFP reports. After negotiations stalled, the ruling conservative Grand National Party moved to vote on the reform, which will allow newspapers to own a greater stake of television media. In response, MPs of the...

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