Government

Senator Steven Payne Sr. Expelled From 34th Legislature

Fourteen senators voted to expel Senator Steven Payne Sr. from the 34th Legislature on Wednesday night, in what was a culmination of immense pressure on lawmakers to address a scandal that had rocked the Senate — one that was untied from other senators but Mr. Payne — after three women accused him of either sexual harassment or sexual assault, the initial being a young employee of his own office. The April 07 report was the first of a series of exclusive stories by Consortium journalists leading to Mr. Payne's expulsion from the Senate. The senator was being investigated by the Senate Committee on Ethical Conduct when the Consortium reported on two other incidents of alleged sexual harassment and assault. The second report was published on April 11 regarding Chezni Jones, who alleged Mr. Payne ripped her underwear off during an encounter at a beach on St. John. The third report was published on May 25, and it detailed the account of 21-year-old Steffi Emilien, who alleged she was a ...