PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union is urging Rhode Island lawmakers to proceed with caution as they weigh expelling a state senator accused of extorting sex from a page in the Senate’s page program.
Steven Brown, the executive director of the ACLU’s Rhode Island office, said in a letter to Democratic Senate President Dominick Ruggerio on Tuesday that a vote to oust Republican Senate Minority Whip Nicholas Kettle could set a “dangerous” precedent.
Brown says the Rhode Island Legislature has never expelled one of its members.
People were interested in these podcasts
Ruggerio has threatened to call for an expulsion vote if Kettle doesn’t resign.
A grand jury indictment unsealed on Monday accuses Kettle of extorting a male page for sex multiple times. He also has been charged separately with video voyeurism. Kettle has denied any wrongdoing.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.