Posted on 02/16/2008 1:22:14 PM PST by BGHater
Delegate Robert A. McKee, chairman of the General Assembly's western Maryland delegation, resigned Friday, saying in a statement that he has "entered treatment" after investigators searched his home during a child pornography investigation.
The FBI's cyber crimes unit is helping Washington County authorities in analyzing materials seized from McKee's home near Hagerstown, an FBI spokesman said Friday. The cyber crimes unit investigates computer crimes including malicious hacking, child pornography and Internet fraud.
"For me, this is deeply embarrassing," McKee said in a statement faxed to news organizations. "It reflects poorly on my service to the community as a state delegate and as executive director of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Washington County. Accordingly, I am resigning today from both positions."
McKee, a Republican, did not return repeated phone calls from The Associated Press seeking comment. In a signed letter to House Speaker Michael Busch, McKee indicated that his resignation would be effective 8 p.m. Monday, said Alexandra Hughes, a spokeswoman for the speaker.
Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore confirmed that the case is a child pornography investigation. Mullendore said investigators conducted the Jan. 31 search of the home after receiving a phone call from someone who told them about child pornography at the residence. Mullendore said investigators seized several computers, about 30 video tapes and printed material containing logs of different information.
Mullendore said the sheriff's department asked for FBI assistance, partly because the investigation involved a public figure. Charges have not been filed, and Mullendore said he did not know when, or if, charges would be filed.
"I would suspect we're talking weeks away at least," Mullendore said.
The Washington County Republican Central Committee will make a recommendation to Gov. Martin O'Malley for a replacement, Hughes said.
McKee, 58, has served in the House of Delegates since 1995, following his election in 1994.
FBI Special Agent Richard J. Wolf said the Washington County Sheriff's Department requested his agency's help after searching McKee's home in Halfway, an unincorporated community south of Hagerstown.
McKee said he has instructed his counsel to cooperate with law enforcement.
"In the meantime, I have entered treatment," McKee said in the statement. "My primary focus is to get well and stay well. I know this can only happen with the support and prayers of my family and friends and the help of professionals."
McKee has been the chairman of the western Maryland delegation, which is made up of state legislators from Carroll, Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties.
Delegate LeRoy Myers, R-Washington, vice chairman of the western Maryland delegation, said he plans to meet next week with the region's other legislators to select the group's new chairman.
Myers said he last saw McKee at the State House in Annapolis Thursday morning. He said McKee had shown no sign of personal problems. McKee was not present during the Friday morning House session.
"Scripture says 'judge not' and I won't be judging him. But at the same time, when it comes to what we're doing, we have to move on and just pray for Bob and the situation he's going through," Myers said.
McKee had been active in the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program in the Hagerstown community for 29 years.
"In the long run, I hope and pray that my work in the local community for the last three decades will speak louder than the challenges I now face," McKee said.
The (Hagerstown) Herald-Mail broke news of the search warrant Friday.
According to his General Assembly biography, McKee has been deeply involved in youth sports, such as Little League and junior basketball.
Jill Godsey, a spokeswoman for the national Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in Philadelphia, said the group had not been contacted by authorities.
I'm sorry to see that this guy is a Republican.
All he has to say is that he was researching a book and the KOSmunists will come to his rescue, right?
What a load of crap.
Treatment? He needs shock thereapy. I think he should be treated with 100,000 volts.
Good riddance to bad rubbish,regardless of party affilliation.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be mentioned...or even reported.
Fine. Let us get rid of all the elected officials with child porn issues. Do it now, instead of in October of 2008.
RNC needs to put out a memo now.
And why is Roger Stone still being considered a Republican adviser?
And why is Bill Clinton still considered a statesman?
guy was associate with Big Brothers...I wonder if his interests went further than child porn
“guy was associate with Big Brothers...I wonder if his interests went further than child porn”
Oh whoa, what a thought. I bet the police are making the same connection.
Yikes.
I wonder if the living life on the edge, living with dual personalities, is the bigger thrill for these guys than the dirty pictures.
Such a waste.
LOL
As for me, I am happy to see the perp is a Republican.
I am happy because it means that we have weeded one more sicko out of the GOP and that this thread will only reach around 100 posts rather than 2000 posts if he had been a Democrat.
One-of-your-neighbors?-ping.
What IS the attraction of child pornography? Why does it seem to appeal to so many seemingly otherwise ‘normal’ people? Is it the last taboo that has not been revisioned and glorified? I simply do NOT understand! Can someone explain it to me? Did these guys just never grow up? Is it about power? Does easy access on the internet tempt people more? Help me out here. I don’t get it at all.
As I recall, in Pennsylvania, alternates are elected in the same primary that the delegates are elected in. (At least those used to be the rules.)
Ned Flanders, call your answering service.
"For me, this is deeply embarrassing," McKee said in a statement faxed to news organizations.
Oh, poor you.
"It reflects poorly on my service to the community as a state delegate and as executive director of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Washington County.
Yet another wolf in the fold.
Accordingly, I am resigning today from both positions."
Preferably, he should resign from life.
"Treatment" is useless for pedophilia.
Hang him.
Slowly.
I'm sorry to see that this guy is still sucking air.
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