An Oklahoma state senator, an outspoken supporter of President Trump, is under investigation by police after he was allegedly found in a motel room with an underage boy, authorities said.
Sen. Ralphy Shortey, a conservative Republican who is married and has children, was questioned by officers last week after a relative of the boy contacted police and asked them to do a welfare check at a Super 8 motel in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, according to The Associated Press.
The Senate voted Wednesday to suspend Shortey for “disorderly behavior.”
The politician, who is also a member of Trump’s state transition team, has not commented publicly about the situation and subsequent questioning by officers.
“While we believe in the right to a fair trial and that all people deserve their day in court, the accusations against Ralph Shortey are in no way in line with the principles of the Oklahoma Republican Party,” Pam Pollard, the state GOP chair, said in a statement.
Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn has been briefed by police but is awaiting an incident report from investigators before deciding whether to file charges, he told The Oklahoman.
He was elected in 2010. He has been married to his high school sweetheart since 2002 and has two children.
Last week, Shortey posted a photo of himself and Donald Trump Jr. to his Facebook page, saying he had just lunched with the president’s son. By Wednesday evening, the page had been taken down.
Courtesy: INSIDE EDITION
