Free Republic

Morrissey, a colorful and controversial former Richmond prosecutor, served eight years in the House as a Democrat before vacating the seat for an unsuccessful challenge of Dance as an independent. During his 30-year political career, he has brandished, sometimes literally, the image of “Fighting Joe” — a feisty populist who prides himself on serving constituents who are overlooked and underserved. Morrissey’s reputation also includes a misdemeanor conviction of contributing to the delinquency of a minor involving relations with his then-17-year-old law firm employee, whom he later married. His wife became a prominent figure in his campaign and introduced him at...

A former Virginia lawmaker who used to spend his days at the state Capitol and his nights in jail after being accused of having sex with his teenage secretary has won a contested primary in his bid for a state Senate seat. Joe Morrissey defeated Sen. Rosalyn Dance in the Democratic primary for a Richmond-area state Senate race. Morrissey was jailed four years ago after a sex scandal involving a teenager, who Morrissey later married. The couple now has three children.

A Virginia lawmaker who drew gasps from his colleagues when he brandished a borrowed AK-47 during an anti-gun speech Thursday was found guilty in 2002 of committing a vicious 1999 assault, was sanctioned for legal misconduct while prosecuting a rape case, spent six months in jail for contempt of a federal court, and saw his law license revoked in 2003. Democratic Delegate Joseph Morrissey brought the rifle to the floor of the House of Delegates to demonstrate how easy it is to carry firearms in Virginia. Republican Delegate Todd Gilbert interrupted Morrissey’s speech to ask him to remove his finger...

While the national media is busy convincing the American electorate that the Supreme Court ruled that no one can ever touch a birth control pill ever again because the GOP hates women, let me present to you a story that would be a national outrage emblematic of half the country’s values…if it involved a Republican.

Virginia’s 74th state district reelected Joe Morrissey to the House of Delegates in a special election held on Tuesday. He celebrated his victory from a jail cell. Morrissey resigned from the seat last December after he was convicted for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old employee at his law office.

Felony indictments were unsealed in Henrico County on Wednesday morning charging Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, I-74th, and the mother of an ex-law office worker in connection with the filing of allegedly fraudulent court documents. Morrissey was accused of four felony counts dealing with documents that were allegedly submitted in connection with his recent sentencing on a misdemeanor conviction. The charges against Morrissey include: felony uttering a forged public record; felony conspiracy to utter a forged record; felony inducing perjury; and perjury. In his General Assembly office, a visibly annoyed Morrissey denied the charges. Also indicted is Deidre Warren, the mother...