Missouri House member recommended for expulsion for sexually abusing own children
Missouri Rep. Rick
Roeber’s children and former wife testified to disturbing allegations of abuse, alcoholism and animal cruelty.
Earlier this year, three children of Missouri Rep.
Rick Roeber testified against their father for the physical and sexual abuse they say he committed.
On Monday, following an investigation by the Missouri House of Representatives, the Missouri Ethics Committee unanimously agreed to expel Roeber from the House. Later this week, that measure to expel will go to a vote in the Missouri House, which needs a two-thirds majority to pass.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. â A Missouri House committee has recommended Leeâs Summit Rep. Rick Roeber be expelled from office after finding that he sexually and physically abused his now-adult children when they were young.
In the House Ethics Committeeâs report released late Monday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers deemed the freshman Republicanâs accusers â including his ex-wife and three of his four children â credible. They testified he had committed acts that under Missouri law would constitute âsexual contactâ or âdeviate sexual intercourse,â according to the report.
The committee also found accusations of physical abuse by Roeber, including beatings and an incident that left one child with a scarred eyelid. The evidence in the case, which included testimony from five witnesses, was âclear and convincing,â the committee said.
Missouri lawmaker should be expelled over allegations he abused his children, committee says pennlive.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pennlive.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Views:
It s notable that these allegations were made public by his children last September. Roeber denied them and voters in Missouri s 14th district elected the child-abuser anyway.
Disgraced Missouri state Rep. Rick Roeber announced his resignation Tuesday afternoon, just steps ahead of potential ouster proceedings in the House chamber.
Roeber, of Lee’s Summit, had been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged sexual assault of his now-adult child Anastasia, and physical abuse of Samson Roeber, a sibling.
Gabrielle Galeano, a sister, said she was aware of Roeber’s behavior at the time. All three told The Star Editorial Board of Roeber’s alleged abuse in separate interviews last year.
Missouri House rejects Rick Roeber s resignation, buying time to finish investigation Jeanne Kuang and Jonathan Shorman, The Kansas City Star
Apr. 15 JEFFERSON CITY The Missouri House rejected the resignation of Rep. Rick Roeber on Thursday after lawmakers investigating allegations of abuse against the Lee s Summit Republican said they needed time to finish their inquiry.
The House voted 153-0 to postpone acceptance of Roeber s resignation, which he offered earlier this week amid meetings of the House Ethics Committee.
Roeber s resignation letter did not address the accusations against him, saying simply that he would be moving out-of-state with his fiance. But in a statement released shortly after he submitted it on Tuesday, House Speaker Rob Vescovo and Ethics Committee Chair Travis Fitzwater said the committee found the allegations credible.