Oklahoma state Sen. and Donald Trump’s campaign chair in Oklahoma Ralph Shortey’s illustrious career as an insane right-wing politician may be taking a hiatus. Wednesday it was revealed that the Republican was under investigation after being found with an underage male at a motel last week. Today, things have become considerably clearer as prosecutors are charging Shortey with “engaging in child prostitution, engaging in prostitution within 1,000 feet of a church and transporting a minor for prostitution/lewdness,” reports Tulsa World.
Cleveland County prosecutors filed the charges after police investigated an incident involving Shortey and a teenager at a Moore motel.
Shortey, 35, and the teenager admitted to police that they had engaged in conversations "pertaining to sexual activities in exchange for money," a police detective wrote in a court affidavit for a search warrant related to the March 9 incident.
According to the report, police say they smelled “marijuana” upon approaching the motel room. It all sounds pretty bad and Shortey’s fellow legislators agree.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Senate imposed sanctions Wednesday on Shortey, voting 43-0 for a resolution that accuses him of "disorderly behavior." Among other things, it removes Shortey from membership and leadership of various Senate committees, bars him from occupying his office and reserved parking spot at the Capitol, blocks his expense allowances and authorship of bills, and revokes his right to have an executive assistant.
Senate officials said Shortey will still receive his $38,400 annual salary as a senator and will be allowed to vote.
This definitely won’t change Shortey’s vote as the guy in charge now seems to be relatively “empathetic” when it comes to rapey kinds of charges. According to KFOR 4, Shortey is involved with teens a lot.
The 35-year-old republican is involved with teens on a regular basis through the YMCA Youth in government program and as a senior staffer at Boys State.
When asked why he was in that motel room, he said “he was just there to hang out with his friend.”
Police also say they found an open box of condoms.