Nation's first openly gay House speaker in 2010 to resign after FBI raid

[DigitalDrifter]

Uh oh, the FBI is in deep shit now. They'll now be labeled as homophobic for daring to go after this guy. Who cares if any laws have been broken, he's gay for gods sake, leave him the fuck alone !!

Rhode Island speaker to step down after FBI raids

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox is resigning from his leadership post and will not run for re-election, he said Saturday, a day after federal and state authorities raided his Statehouse office and home as part of a criminal investigation that they would not detail.

Rhode Island House speaker's home, office searched in federal probe Reuters

"Because of the respect I have for all members of the House of Representatives, I am resigning as Speaker," Fox said in a written statement emailed to reporters. "The process of governing must continue and the transition of leadership must be conducted in an orderly manner."

The 52-year-old Providence Democrat, who became the nation's first openly gay House speaker in 2010, said he planned to serve out the remainder of his term through the end of the year, but that "my personal focus going forward will be on my family and dealing with the investigation." It is unclear when Fox will officially resign, but the next scheduled meeting of the House is Tuesday.

Fox has represented Rhode Island's capital in the General Assembly for more than 20 years and is one of the state's most powerful politicians.

The Friday raids were carried out by the U.S. attorney's office, FBI, IRS and state police. Boxes of evidence were carried off after agents spent hours at both his home and office. Officials will not say whom or what they are investigating.

While questions remain about the nature of the investigation and Fox's role in it, his enduring legislative legacy is most likely to be legalizing gay marriage. In 2011, he abandoned a legalization push because of opposition in the Senate.

Instead, he pushed civil unions and was roundly criticized by some gay marriage supporters, who felt bitter and let down.

But just two years later, Fox was instrumental in pushing gay marriage legislation through as the political climate shifted nationally. He became emotional at the bill-signing ceremony on the Statehouse steps last year as he addressed the crowd and talked about his longtime partner, Marcus LaFond, whom he called "the love of my life."

"This tells me our relationship does matter," Fox said. "It means that we mean something."

The two were married last year in Fox's Statehouse office. Fox came out in 2004, in an unplanned announcement, while addressing a gay marriage rally at the Statehouse.

Rep. Frank Ferri, D-Warwick, a leading advocate for same-sex marriage, clashed at times with Fox over the issue. He recalled Fox's years as majority leader and said he was respected for his ability to cut to the heart of an issue during floor debates.

"People would say, 'I didn't know where I was on an issue until he clarified it for me,'" Ferri said.

The raids immediately set off jockeying among members of the House vying to become the next speaker. On Saturday, shortly after Fox's announcement, Majority Leader Nicholas Mattiello, his top deputy, said he believes he has enough votes, and expected an election Tuesday.

He said he wished Fox well but that legislators would now be able to "work together to move the House of Representatives and the state forward in a positive direction."

WPRI-TV reported late Saturday that Rep. Michael Marcello also is claiming enough votes to assume the speakership.

A new speaker would have to be elected in an open House session after Fox submits a resignation letter.

Rep. Joseph McNamara, D-Warwick, who is supporting Mattiello as speaker, said Democrats could caucus as soon as Sunday to hammer out the votes.

"It is a sad day for the Rhode Island House of Representatives and the state of Rhode Island," McNamara said. "Speaker Fox had many accomplishments that we should all be proud of. With that said, a transition that does not interrupt the (legislative) process is extremely important."

Fox is one of six children born to an Irish-American father and a Cape Verdean mother. His dad polished jewelry and worked odd jobs; his mom worked as a maid. In a 2011 interview with The Associated Press, he recalled the family moving into a new apartment with a view of the Statehouse and how he marveled at the dome.

His father had stressed the importance of education, but Fox was forced to drop out of Providence College when he died. "I felt defeated," he said in a 2010 commencement speech at Rhode Island College. "I was afraid that history was repeating itself."

Fox worked in a bank, scooped ice cream and sold vacuum cleaners. But he ultimately went back to school, enrolling at Rhode Island College — which he said "saved my life" — then attending Northeastern University School of Law on a full scholarship.

Fox in 2012 faced his toughest re-election campaign in years in part because of his support of a $75 million state loan guarantee for former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's video game company, 38 Studios, which later went bankrupt. Earlier this year, he reached a settlement with the state ethics commission for failing to disclose more than $40,000 in legal work for a Providence economic development agency. Fox agreed to pay a $1,500 civil fine.

http://news.yahoo.com/rhode-island-speaker-step-down-fbi-raids-214600342--politics.html

 

[TheOldSchool]

Good he'll have to pay for his crimes.

Tell me though, would you have posted this if he wasn't gay? Would you have cared at all if he wasn't gay?

 

[Katzndogz]

If he wasn't gay, we'd have found out that the unspecified crimes had something to do with child porn.

 

[TheOldSchool]

If he wasn't gay, we'd have found out that the unspecified crimes had something to do with child porn.

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

If he wasn't gay, we'd have found out that the unspecified crimes had something to do with child porn.

Well... the media could easily find out with a information request....so.....

 

[novasteve]

The longer they don't say what it's about the more likely it is the media trying to protect a protected status group member.

 

[SteadyMercury]

Uh oh, the FBI is in deep shit now. They'll now be labeled as homophobic for daring to go after this guy. Who cares if any laws have been broken, he's gay for gods sake, leave him the fuck alone !!

This is beyond stupid.

They went after a guy who is gay, yet somehow you have managed to take that as an opportunity to complain about law enforcement not going after gays.

 

[Moonglow]

If he wasn't gay, we'd have found out that the unspecified crimes had something to do with child porn.

Your crystal ball is a little dingy...

 

[Moonglow]

he's gay for gods sake

God makes people gay!? Finally the truth is revealed.

 

[Silhouette]

If he wasn't gay, we'd have found out that the unspecified crimes had something to do with child porn.

BINGO.

I have a feeling we're going to find that out anyway. Anyone want to babysit this one?

 

[DigitalDrifter]

Good he'll have to pay for his crimes.

Tell me though, would you have posted this if he wasn't gay? Would you have cared at all if he wasn't gay?

Since he's a Dimocrat, I absolutely would have posted it. I never miss a chance to crucify a Dimocrat, straight, homo, trans, female, white Asian, Black, red, etc etc.

Just like in a newsroom, if they bleed, they lead.

 

[DigitalDrifter]

Uh oh, the FBI is in deep shit now. They'll now be labeled as homophobic for daring to go after this guy. Who cares if any laws have been broken, he's gay for gods sake, leave him the fuck alone !!

This is beyond stupid.

They went after a guy who is gay, yet somehow you have managed to take that as an opportunity to complain about law enforcement not going after gays.

Let's spell it class !

S-A-R-C-A-S-M !

You see your side has this ugly habit of accusing anyone of criticizing gay marriage as being a bigot, or criticizing Obama of anything as being a racist. Etc etc.
So you'll excuse me if I'm a bit cynical.

 

[R.C. Christian]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox is resigning from his leadership post and will not run for re-erection, he said Saturday, a day after federal and state authorities raided his bathouse, orifice and home as part of a criminal investigation that they would not detail.

Rhode Island House speaker's home, office searched in federal anal probe Reuters

Fox has represented Rhode Island's capital in the Genital Assembly for more than 20 years and is one of the state's most powerful fudge packers.

The Friday raids were carried out by the U.S. attorney's office, FBI, IRS and state police. Boxes of butt plugs were carried off after agents spent hours at both his home and orifice. Officials will not say whom or what they are investigating except to say he has an amazing ass.

 

[Silhouette]

The question is: why was a full on raid necessary? Some are speculating this was about finances. Surely those could be tapped online and spare such a spectacle of a high ranking public official. Iinstead, the officers felt it necessary to force their way into his home and remove "items in boxes and bags".

Anyone want to speculate what those items were?

 

[Delta4Embassy]

he's gay for gods sake

God makes people gay!? Finally the truth is revealed.

Is precedence for G-d making people do things He also says are sins. As with 'hardening Pharaoh's heart.' Might well make some gay despite also viewing it as sinful.

 

[Silhouette]

Any word on what this was about and why an in-home raid was necessary on such a high ranking official?

 

[Silhouette]

Law enforcement officials raided the office of House Speaker Gordon Fox on Friday as part of an investigation by the U.S. attorney’s office, the FBI, IRS and state police.

Authorities entered Fox’s Statehouse office carrying an evidence bag and empty cardboard boxes Friday morning. Fox’s spokesman, Larry Berman, said state police had asked everyone working in the office to leave, but he didn’t know why....

... State Police Raid Office Of Openly Gay R.I. House Speaker :: EDGE Boston

For some odd reason, these federal officials did not want one single witness or word going out of why they were conducting a public raid on the Speaker.

 

[Silhouette]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Days after federal and state authorities raided the House speaker's office at the Rhode Island Statehouse, there is still little known about why, or what they were looking for.

The U.S. Attorney's office has refused to comment on the target of the investigation since Friday's raid on Democrat Gordon Fox's Statehouse office and home. Fox resigned his speakership the next day in a written statement, but he did not address the investigation, other than to say he wanted to focus on it. His lawyer has refused to comment....

...Last week's raids were conducted by the U.S. Attorney's office, the FBI, IRS and state police after they received two federal search warrants. No one has said whether Fox is the target of the criminal probe, and Jim O'Neil, a defense lawyer who is a former state attorney general, said it's not a good idea to speculate.

But, he said any search of the Statehouse would have given prosecutors and the magistrate judge who signed the search warrant pause because it is so high profile and because it is considered the people's house....

...O'Neil called Friday's search "most professional."

"I think their tight-lipped approach to it is equally professional and wise. It's serious business and a serious situation. Serious and sad," he said.

Few clues in Rhode Island Statehouse raid | UTSanDiego.com

"Serious and sad"? Why is the public not notified of what's going on in this high-profile raid? Is it because the guy is gay? Well, of course it is. Other high-ranking officials are raked over the coals the minute the story breaks...with or without proof. Look at Christie for example. Where is MSNBC's nonstop coverage of this situation? And why is his being gay perhaps an issue for the clampdown on media release?

The public has a right to know why this man's alleged crimes are "serious and sad"...

 

[Silhouette]

Any updates on this? Where's Rachael Maddow's nonstop "government official corruption" pre-conviction coverage on this story? She's as silent as a church mouse on this one...

 

[Silhouette]

Federal officials were also spotted at Fox’s home. Federal officials search RI House Speaker?s office - News Local Rhode Island - Boston.com

Apparently they were removing many many boxes from both his home and office. If it was just tax fraud I'm pretty sure we'd have heard about it by now. Why all the hush hush? The guy resigned so he's really sort of putting it out there that the crime is one of high embarassment for Rhode Island. He's been busted for tax issues and other indiscretions before and kept on as Speaker without a blip. But this time no one is saying a word and he quickly resigned. Wonder what it's all about?