Former U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds announces campaign for congressional seat he once held in the 1990s. (CBS).
CHICAGO (CBS) — Mel Reynolds’ campaign slogan may be “redemption”, but the Survivor’s Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) says that does not mean voters in the 2nd District should send him back to Congress.
In 1995, Reynolds was sentenced to five years in prison for sexual assault and sexual abuse, for having sex with a 16-year old campaign worker, and with child pornography. He was later charged and convicted of lying on loan and campaign finance statements and spent several more years behind bars.
“We’re all for forgiveness and redemption, but it’s just reckless to put a convicted drunk driver behind the wheel of a school bus,” said SNAP Director David Clohsesy.
Clohessy says the prudent thing for voters to do is not give Reynolds the position he used in the past to hurt children and that it’s important to “keep known sex offenders away from job titles and honors and positions that they’ve used in the past to hurt youngsters.”
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In a written statement, Clohessy says, “Most child molesters are dangerous. They are shrew, manipulative, skillful and deceitful.”
