A Virginia legislator who made headlines earlier this year by brandishing an assault rifle in the state capitol is now under investigation in a case involving a 17-year-old girl. Police in Henrico County say they are investigating Del. Joe Morrissey after an incident Friday in which the teenager’s father reportedly called to complain that his daughter was spending the night at the Democrat delegate’s home in the Richmond suburb of Glen Allen.
Virginia Democrat Joe Morrissey denied knowledge of investigation Wednesday.
No charges have yet been filed and, because the case involves a minor, police and prosecutors declined to discuss their investigation. Morrissey himself denied any knowledge of the case Wednesday.
“Didn’t know anything about it … Wish I could help you,” the legislator told Jon Burkett of WTVR-TV, the Richmond CBS affiliate that first reported on the investigation. It is known that the 17-year-old is from Chesterfield County, and that police visited Morrissey’s house at the request of the girl’s father.
Joe Morrissey used an assault rifle in January gun-control debate. (Photo: Bob Brown, Richmond Times Dispatch)
The controversial Virginia lawmaker made national headlines in January when he brandished a military-style weapon in the House of Delegates while arguing for new gun-control laws. A former prosecutor, Morrissey was disbarred in 2003, but had his law license reinstated two years ago after a lengthy appeal.
Why would a 17-year-old girl’s father be concerned about her spending the night at Morrissey’s house? Perhaps because the 56-year-old Democrat seems somewhat notorious as a sexually adventurous bachelor. He has never married, but Morrissey has admitted fathering three children out of wedlock.
READ MORE:
- Jon Burkett, Mike Bergazzi and Scott Wise, WTVR-TV: Del. Joe Morrissey, teen at center of police investigation
- Eric Dondero, Libertarian Republican: 56-yr old Virginia Democrat Del. now under investigation for having a 17-yr old teenage girl over his house for a sleepover
- Bill McElway, Richmond Times-Dispatch: Henrico police investigating Morrissey’s ties to teen girl
- Suzanne Kennedy, WJLA-TV: Joe Morrissey under investigation for contact with teen
