Missouri Legislature Expels Rep. Rick Roeber Over Child Abuse Allegations

[PoliticAverse]

Months after child abuse allegations first surfaced against state Rep. Rick Roeber — then a candidate for the Lee’s Summit district — the Missouri House of Representatives voted Wednesday to expel the Republican.

While no lawmakers voted against expulsion, Rep. Bruce DeGroot, R-Ellisville, voted “present.”

In a somber discussion on the House floor, lawmakers said they found the allegations credible and criticized prosecutors for not bringing charges against Roeber when the abuse was reported decades ago.

“We believe the state has failed Rick Roeber’s family — and horribly ” said Rep. Travis Fitzwater, the ethics committee chair. “The abuses this family endured are to this day devastating.”

Read the rest at: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2021-04-21/missouri-legislature-expels-rep-rick-roeber-over-child-abuse-allegations

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Just allegations? No trial, no hearing?

Yes, I am being serious.

Those are their rules; they can do what they want, I guess.

I'm not in Missouri, so I'm not keeping track of this story. This is the first I've heard of it.

[PoliticAverse]

2. He actually submitted his resignation a few days ago but it wasn't accepted...

See: https://missouriindependent.com/2021/04/15/missouri-house-rejects-resignation-of-republican-accused-of-sexually-abusing-his-children/

There was an investigation by the Missouri House ethics committee:

A House ethics committee investigated the allegations and recommended expulsion in its report released Monday. The 10-member body found “clear and convincing” evidence that Roeber physically abused his children and sexually abused two of them. Lawmakers interviewed three of Roeber’s children, who are now adults, and spoke with Roeber’s ex-wife. In addition to the abuse allegations, two witnesses alleged that Roeber drowned several puppies.

The committee also reviewed over 200 pages of documents and questioned Roeber, who has denied the allegations. He said they were made as a “political hit.” Roeber did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

[Rebl2]

4. His adult

children came out with these allegations before the primary last year, telling their story of abuse when they were growing up. He’s a conservative Republican and represents Lee’s Summit,MO a very conservative city. I believe they plan to send the information they have gathered on to the Jackson county prosecutor. I found it interesting he tried to resign before they came out with their decision. They would not accept his resignation. He said he was getting married and needed to leave the state right away for whatever reason.
By the way, he had a wife that died from injuries from a car accident. It occurred in early 2019 and she seemed to be getting better, but died I believe in July of ‘19 as a result of her injuries. It was actually her seat in Jefferson City that he won.

[Jilly_in_VA]

3. Seriously

is THAT what it takes to get expelled from the Missouri legislature as a Repugnican? Child abuse and molestation? Wow.

[orwell]

5. Paging Q...

...We have another Qonservative Child abuser!

It seems like you've been Qonned again!