Vermont Senate votes to suspend lawmaker facing sex charges

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — In an action with no precedent in Vermont, the state Senate voted today to suspend a lawmaker who faces criminal sex charges that could send him to prison for life.

Sen. Norman McAllister, 64, a Franklin County Republican, was arrested May 7 outside the Statehouse and arraigned the next day on three counts of felony sexual assault and three counts of misdemeanor prohibited acts.

Prosecutors say he sexually assaulted two women who were tenants and employees on his Highgate dairy farm and solicited a third for sex. One of his accusers worked for him at the Statehouse as an assistant.

McAllister has maintained his innocence and rejected calls – including from Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin and Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Scott – for his resignation, saying his intention was to continue with "the job I was elected to do."

Those who backed McAllister's removal said his presence – and the subsequent media attention – were interfering with Senate business. Opponents of his removal pointed to the principle of innocent until proved guilty and argued that the Senate should wait for the outcome of McAllister's court case.