Small-time Republican Rep. Caught Throwing Water in Democratic Rival’s Tote Bag

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A Republican lawmaker from Vermont admitted to pouring water into a Democratic colleague’s bag for months.

Video footage showed Republican Mary Ann Morrissey throwing cups of water into Democratic Rep. Jim Carroll’s tote bag, which was hanging on a coat rack, multiple times. Two videos, showing separate incidents that occurred in March, were first published by the Vermont media outlet. Seven days.

“I have been very reluctant to release the video because I think it would deeply embarrass Rep. Morrissey,” Carroll told the outlet. “However, it has become clear to me that the media is aware of the details of Rep. Morrissey’s behavior and will likely continue to report on it in the near future,” he wrote.

Unsure of the source of the water, Carroll told the outlet that he installed a $23 spy camera behind a scarf aimed at the coat rack, which hangs in the hallway outside his committee room . The camera captured the watershed moment that was five months in the making.

“For five months I went through this… It was torment, there’s no doubt about it,” Carroll said.

Morrissey apologized to Carroll on June 17 on the House floor in front of his colleagues.

“I am truly ashamed of my actions,” the Republican lawmaker said.

“I have sincerely apologized to Jim directly and publicly and will work toward resolution and recovery through our legislative process. This was conduct very unbecoming of my position as a representative and a human being and does not reflect my 28 years of service and courtesy,” she said.

Carroll told the Associated Press he first noticed his bag getting soaked several times a week in January and February. Carroll was arrested in February for driving under the influence.

But when he returned from rehab, he told the Associated Press that his bag was wet daily: “It was relentless.”

After capturing the damning footage, Carroll said she showed the evidence to House Speaker Jill Krowinski, who then contacted Morrissey.

“This is a truly concerning situation that is at odds with our legislative practices,” Krowinski told the outlet in a statement.

“The integrity and decorum of our legislative procedures and legislators are of paramount importance, and any actions or behaviors that compromise these values ​​will be thoroughly investigated and addressed,” the lawmaker said.