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Senate sex tape: Congressional staffer allegedly seen in leaked video could face charges, legal expert says
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Leroy N. Soetoro
Dec 18, 2023, 3:43:25 PM12/18/23
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-sex-tape-congressional-staffer-
allegedly-seen-leaked-video-could-face-charges-lawyer-says
An alleged congressional staffer who filmed an explicit sex tape inside a
Senate hearing room could face criminal charges, one lawyer argues.
The U.S. Capitol Police told Fox News they were aware of an amateur
pornographic video published by the Daily Caller on Friday, which shows
someone identified as a congressional staffer, engaging in sex with
another man in Hart Senate Office Building room 216.
According to the Daily Caller, the video was leaked after being "shared in
a private group for gay men in politics." The men's identities haven't
been confirmed.
Posts on social media claimed the alleged staffer worked for Sen. Ben
Cardin's office. Hours after the story broke, Cardin's office announced
that a legislative aide had been dismissed but did not address reports
linking a member of his staff to the sex tape.
"We will have no further comment on this personnel matter," his office
wrote in a statement.
In a blog post, Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley, an attorney and
professor at George Washington University Law, discussed possible charges
that could be brought. Turley said, "the question is whether this
unofficial use would constitute trespass."
"It also uses an official area for personal purposes, though it is not
clear if there were any commercial benefits garnered from the video found
on various sites," Turley wrote.
Turley said one possible charge could fall under D.C. code section 22-
1312, which discusses lewd, indecent, or obscene acts.
"It is unlawful for a person, in public, to make an obscene or indecent
exposure of his or her genitalia or anus, to engage in masturbation, or to
engage in a sexual act as defined in § 22-3001(8). It is unlawful for a
person to make an obscene or indecent sexual proposal to a minor. A person
who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than the amount
set forth in § 22-3571.01, imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both,"
the criminal code states.
Turley says that the question regarding charges falling under this section
would be whether a locked Senate committee room is considered "in public."
Whether or not any video filmed in the hearing room was used to make money
could also "have bearing on potential charges," Turley argued.
He also brought up 18 U.S.C. 641, which addresses improper use of public
money, property, or records.
"The Capitol police could argue that this constitutes purloining or using
government property for personal purposes," Turley wrote. "The key factor
is the fact that this videotape was made with the apparent intent to
publish or show others. Sex in congressional offices — by both members and
staff — have long been known to occur on Capitol Hill. Yet, this was a
public hearing room, albeit closed at the time, and a tape made for what
appears public viewing."
Addressing trespassing, Turley said "the question may be whether this was
access under legal authority for a staffer. The Capitol police can argue
that access to a staff position does not mean a license for entry for any
purpose."
"Does a staffer have legal authority to enter any hearing room for any
purpose? That could be a defense raised by counsel, but it would seem
likely that any access is premised on an official function," he wrote.
U.S. Capitol police told Fox News of the video, "We are aware and looking
into this."
Fox News Digital's Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
allegedly-seen-leaked-video-could-face-charges-lawyer-says
An alleged congressional staffer who filmed an explicit sex tape inside a
Senate hearing room could face criminal charges, one lawyer argues.
The U.S. Capitol Police told Fox News they were aware of an amateur
pornographic video published by the Daily Caller on Friday, which shows
someone identified as a congressional staffer, engaging in sex with
another man in Hart Senate Office Building room 216.
According to the Daily Caller, the video was leaked after being "shared in
a private group for gay men in politics." The men's identities haven't
been confirmed.
Posts on social media claimed the alleged staffer worked for Sen. Ben
Cardin's office. Hours after the story broke, Cardin's office announced
that a legislative aide had been dismissed but did not address reports
linking a member of his staff to the sex tape.
"We will have no further comment on this personnel matter," his office
wrote in a statement.
In a blog post, Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley, an attorney and
professor at George Washington University Law, discussed possible charges
that could be brought. Turley said, "the question is whether this
unofficial use would constitute trespass."
"It also uses an official area for personal purposes, though it is not
clear if there were any commercial benefits garnered from the video found
on various sites," Turley wrote.
Turley said one possible charge could fall under D.C. code section 22-
1312, which discusses lewd, indecent, or obscene acts.
"It is unlawful for a person, in public, to make an obscene or indecent
exposure of his or her genitalia or anus, to engage in masturbation, or to
engage in a sexual act as defined in § 22-3001(8). It is unlawful for a
person to make an obscene or indecent sexual proposal to a minor. A person
who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than the amount
set forth in § 22-3571.01, imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both,"
the criminal code states.
Turley says that the question regarding charges falling under this section
would be whether a locked Senate committee room is considered "in public."
Whether or not any video filmed in the hearing room was used to make money
could also "have bearing on potential charges," Turley argued.
He also brought up 18 U.S.C. 641, which addresses improper use of public
money, property, or records.
"The Capitol police could argue that this constitutes purloining or using
government property for personal purposes," Turley wrote. "The key factor
is the fact that this videotape was made with the apparent intent to
publish or show others. Sex in congressional offices — by both members and
staff — have long been known to occur on Capitol Hill. Yet, this was a
public hearing room, albeit closed at the time, and a tape made for what
appears public viewing."
Addressing trespassing, Turley said "the question may be whether this was
access under legal authority for a staffer. The Capitol police can argue
that access to a staff position does not mean a license for entry for any
purpose."
"Does a staffer have legal authority to enter any hearing room for any
purpose? That could be a defense raised by counsel, but it would seem
likely that any access is premised on an official function," he wrote.
U.S. Capitol police told Fox News of the video, "We are aware and looking
into this."
Fox News Digital's Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
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