Imagine a disgraced former Republican congressman like say Mark Foley (R-Fla.) found his way back into the news after being arrested on porn charges in a foreign country. Imagine he then tried to claim asylum in another country, giving a fanciful story about being the target of a secretive government hit squad.
Suffice it to say, that story would be the watercooler topic of the day in the liberal media and the Republican's party ID would be noted in every story. But, of course, we're talking about the saga of ex-congressman and ex-con Mel Reynolds (D-Illinois). The Associated Press has the latest in his ongoing saga, but, alas, left out his party affiliation from the story entirely:
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds says he is in hiding in South Africa following his deportation from Zimbabwe because he believes his life is in danger.
He told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that he believes he is being pursued by a secret Zimbabwean death squad because of information he has on American businessmen, especially from Chicago, who are doing business illegally with Zimbabwe.
He accused the Mugabe regime of "trumping up" pornography charges against him two weeks ago to discredit him. He was arrested Feb. 16 and after spending a few days in a Zimbabwean jail, the pornography charges were dropped on a technicality while he pleaded guilty to violating Zimbabwe's immigration laws.
He was deported to South Africa on Feb. 23 after paying a $100 fine.
Reynolds, you may recall, resigned from Congress in 1995 after being convicted of statutory rape and child porn charges. He was succeeded in office by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), who, himself went on to a fall from grace and a prison sentence.
