Latest Breaking News

Judi Lynn

(160,544 posts) Fri Dec 21, 2018, 08:52 PM Dec 2018

Mississippi senator's arrest could create leadership fight

Source: Associated Press

Emily Wagster Pettus, Associated Press
Updated 6:22 pm CST, Friday, December 21, 2018

Photo: Oktibbeha Sheriff's Department, AP
This booking photo provided by the Oktibbeha County Jail shows Republican State Senate President Pro Tem Terry Burton, who was arrested by the Mississippi Highway Patrol on suspicion of driving drunk, Wednesday night, Dec. 19, 2018, near Starkville, Miss. Burton was charged with DUI second offense and failure to maintain proper lane. (Oktibbeha Sheriff's Department via AP)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A leadership showdown is developing in the Mississippi Senate after its second-ranking official was arrested this week for the third time on suspicion of drunken driving.

Republican Terry Burton, the Senate president pro tempore, issued a statement Friday apologizing for causing "embarrassment" to friends, family and colleagues, including Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves. Burton said he would consider professional counseling.

But Reeves is saying Burton should resign as pro tem.

"The lieutenant governor has made it clear to Sen. Burton that he believes he should relinquish his leadership post," Reeves' spokeswoman Laura Hipp said.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Mississippi-lawmaker-apologizes-after-his-latest-13485034.php

3 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Mississippi senator's arrest could create leadership fight (Original Post) Judi Lynn Dec 2018 OP

Third DUI? 912gdm Dec 2018 #1

Alcoholism is a disease and should be treated as such--no matter what Party riversedge Dec 2018 #2

It is a disease. 912gdm Dec 2018 #3

912gdm

(959 posts)

1. Third DUI?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Dec 21, 2018, 08:55 PM

Dec 2018

Dude needs to be in jail, not in any kind of leadership position. He is clearly unable to learn from past failure.

Spoken from someone with one DUI.

riversedge

(70,242 posts)

2. Alcoholism is a disease and should be treated as such--no matter what Party

Reply to 912gdm (Reply #1)

Fri Dec 21, 2018, 09:27 PM

Dec 2018

one belongs to. Extended in house treatment is usually the answer for many and hope he and his family will do that.

............He sent a statement to The Associated Press hours later, saying: "I plan to spend the holidays with my family and discuss with them how best to proceed to deal with events of this week, professional counseling for me and how best to show my respect for the institution of the state Senate and the individual senators."

Burton said the arrest was a "personal shortcoming." He added that it is "no reflection on my colleagues but is strictly on me."

"I pray to learn and, with professional help, move forward toward being a better me in every aspect of my life," Burton said.

Burton was arrested Wednesday in Starkville and charged with DUI second offense and failure to maintain proper lane. He was released on $992 bail.

Burton pleaded guilty after a 2014 DUI arrest in Brandon. He was acquitted after a 2016 DUI arrest in Scott County when a judge ruled that cough syrup and breath spray that Burton said he used right after an accident must have caused a false positive on a breath test.

Burton took office in January 1992 as a Democrat representing a state Senate district in east central Mississippi. He became a Republican in December 2002.

912gdm

(959 posts)

3. It is a disease.

Reply to riversedge (Reply #2)

Fri Dec 21, 2018, 10:40 PM

Dec 2018

It was horrific when I was shown video tapes of me sober/drunk.

But after I had my DUI , I realized there was a problem, and it wasn't society, or a disease, it was me.

This Member of his states Legislature is now on his third DUI. That would be prison for me, and you.

"Extended in house treatment is usually the answer for many and hope he and his family will do that."

No, no its not. My parents can tell you that.

Reply to this discussion