MONTPELIER, Vt. — A Vermont Republican lawmaker has apologized after being caught on video repeatedly putting water in a Democratic lawmaker’s bag.
State Rep. Mary Morrissey publicly apologized on the House floor Monday to state Rep. Jim Carroll, her colleagues and the people of Vermont, both of whom are from Bennington, a city of about 15,000 people in the southwestern part of the state.
“I am deeply ashamed of my actions,” Morrissey said of her “disrespectful conduct” toward Carroll. She said she would apologize directly to Carroll and work toward “resolution and healing through the legislative process.”
Carroll responded by telling the chamber that he felt Morrissey had spoken sincerely but that he had to speak up. “I went through this for five months,” he said, adding that Morrissey had a choice each time.
“It was painful,” he said.
Carroll told The Associated Press that the tote bag, which hangs in a hallway at the Statehouse, got wet about twice a week in January and February. Then, after he was charged with DUI in February and returned from rehab, the bag got wet almost every day.
“It was relentless,” Carroll said, adding that he was convinced Morrissey was behind it, and that Morrissey would often abuse him. Carroll set up a video camera behind a scarf on the opposite wall and filmed Morrissey pouring water from a glass into the bag on April 23 and 26. Carroll then showed the footage to House Speaker Jill Krowinski, who showed it to Morrissey and confronted him.
“This is truly disturbing and at odds with our legislative practices,” Krowinski, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Our legislative process and the integrity and civility of our members are of the utmost importance, and any actions or conduct that undermine these values will be thoroughly investigated and addressed.”
Morrissey has not said why he did so and did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Carroll told fellow lawmakers on Monday that sitting down with Morrissey for the first time would be awkward, but “you have to start somewhere.”
