Crime

Former Senator Steven Payne Sr. Takes Battle to Court

Former Senator Steven Payne Sr., who served as an at-large senator before being expelled from the 34th Legislature on July 20th has taken to the courts asking that he be reinstated the position of senator, contending in a V.I. Superior Court filing that he was not afforded due process by the 34th Legislature. Mr. Payne had sought a temporary restraining order filed by attorney Treston Moore on Monday against the sitting of Senator-At-Large Angel Bolques Jr. But with Mr. Bolques already sworn in, Judge Renee Gumbs-Carty, who is hearing the matter, ruled that portion of the request moot. She did, however, allow a status conference scheduled for 10:00 a.m. today to move forward. The complaint names Senate President Donna Frett-Gregory and members of the 34th Legislature as defendants, and Mr. Payne along with Noellise Powell, a St. John resident who voted for Mr. Payne as plaintiffs. The former senator says the employee in his office who accused him of sexual harassment was lying, an...