In second TV ad, Taylor highlights involvement in the prosecution of Joe Morrissey
Shannon Taylor, the Democratic nominee in VA-01, is highlighting her part in the process to prosecute former Virginia state Senator Joe Morrissey for sex crimes years ago.
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In second TV ad, Taylor highlights work to prosecute Joe Morrissey
Shannon Taylor, the Democratic nominee in VA-01, is highlighting her part in the process to prosecute former Virginia state Senator Joe Morrissey for sex crimes years ago.
At the time, Morrissey was a Democratic member of the House of Delegates. He was charged in 2013 for an inappropriate relationship with an underage employee of his law firm.
Taylor, then Henrico Commonwealth Attorney, asked the judge for a special prosecutor in the case.
“As Henrico’s top prosecutor I didn’t care that he was a Democrat or the pressure that I got to make it go away,” Taylor says in the ad.
Morrissey was charged with three felonies: taking "indecent liberties" with a 17-year-old, child pornography and soliciting a minor. He was eventually only convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, in order to avoid going to trial for the three more severe charges. He spent weekends in jail while continuing to serve in the General Assembly during the week.
Watch the ad from Taylor below:
Transcript:
ST: Joe Morrissey was a powerful Democratic lawmaker.
ST: He’d been a supporter, even a donor of mine. But then I got the call.
NEWS ANCHOR: Indicted for sex crimes with a minor
ST: As Henrico’s top prosecutor I didn’t care that he was a Democrat or the pressure that I got to make it go away.
ST: So I called for a special prosecutor
ST: He broke the law
NEWS ANCHOR: Delinquency of a minor
ST: And he went to jail.
ST: I’m Shannon Taylor, and I approve this message because doing what’s right matters more than politics.
