Burned Verses
Superstar
Northam pardons Sen. Joe Morrissey for his interaction with 17-year-old
Gov. Ralph Northam has pardoned Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, for a misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor related to his relationship with a 17-year-old law firm assistant who later became his wife.
Morrissey, then a delegate, was convicted in 2014. He and his wife, Myrna, are now raising four children.
“In 2013 it was alleged that Joe and Myrna engaged in consensual sexual intercourse,” the petition said. “Assuming that this happened, it is important to consider today’s reality. It should also be noted that when Myrna applied for a job with Mr. Morrissey, she misrepresented her age when she submitted her resume.”
The petition later continued:
“Myrna will be the first to acknowledge that she was not in any way manipulated by Joe and that she was in no way coerced by him. ... They worked together, they were attracted to each other, they fell in love, married, and are raising four (4) wonderful children together. A beautiful and happy family living the American Dream.”
Morrissey said in the petition that although many members of the public love him, he is “a politically polarizing figure.”
One Democrat who was unhappy with the pardon on Friday was Lizzie Hylton, the political and legislative director for the special interest group Clean Virginia.
“Never in my life have I been so ashamed to be a Democrat,” she wrote on Twitter. “Thanks @GovernorVA for spitting in the face of me and every other survivor of sexual assault in VA on your way out of office.”
The petition included affidavits from Myrna Morrissey, her mother and grandmother in support of her relationship with Joe Morrissey and the pardon.
“I was a mature woman who knew exactly what I was doing,” Myrna Morrissey wrote. “This prosecution continues to hang over our family.”
Northam leaves office on Saturday as Glenn Youngkin is inaugurated as Virginia’s 74th governor.
Last edited: