Married Trump campaign chair caught in motel room with teenage boy
A married Republican lawmaker is facing calls to resign after he was caught in a motel with a teenage boy.
Oklahoma state Senator Ralph Shortey is under police investigation over the incident at a Super 8 Motel earlier this month.
The Republican politician, who is married with children, had booked a room at the motel on March 9 shortly after midnight.
Responding to concerns less than half an hour later, police discovered Shortey in the room with a teenage boy, identified by police as a “juvenile”.
Lt. Kyle Dudley told The Oklahoman: “On March 9 officers of the Moore Police Department were contacted in reference to a welfare check at a local hotel.
“Responding officers found a juvenile male in a hotel room which was also occupied by an adult male.
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are currently under investigation and no additional information can be released at this time.”
No arrests have been made, but police investigations are ongoing. According to local news outlets he could face charges of soliciting prostitution of a minor, prostitution within 1,000 feet of a church, and transporting for the purpose of prostitution.
Shortey was the state Oklahoma chair of Trump’s campaign during the Republican primaries.
A GOP spokesperson said: “The Oklahoma Republican Party takes all accusations against elected officials seriously, especially when the welfare of a minor is involved.
“We have reached out to Senator Shortey for comment and have not heard back from him at this time. We await the report from law enforcement on whether charges will be filed.”
Oklahoma Democrats chair Mark Hammons said: “While a final resolution should await completion of the police investigation, Sen. Ralph Shortey owes it to his constituents and all taxpayers to suspend himself from all official activities.
“This is far too embarrassing to have him speak, vote or represent Oklahoma on any issue.”