Ex-Us Congressman Melvin Reynolds Arrested In Zimbabwe For Allegedly Possessing Pornography

Source: Associated Press

By RAY FAURE and GILLIAN GOTORA | Associated Press | 34 minutes ago in Politics

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds, who lost his seat in Congress almost two decades ago after being convicted of statutory rape, has been arrested in Zimbabwe on suspicion of possessing pornography and an immigration offence.

Reynolds is being held in custody and is expected to appear in court soon, immigration official Ario Mabika told The Associated Press. Officials would not say where he was being held but ordinarily such detainees would be held at Harare Central Charge Office, a dingy concrete complex downtown where people are held a dozen to a cell and a where hole in the center serves as a toilet.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Karen Kelley refused to comment on the case, saying it was a matter involving a private citizen and that the embassy did not have a privacy waiver to divulge information.

Reynolds, 62, was arrested Monday by police detectives and immigration officials at a Harare hotel, according to the state-controlled newspaper, The Herald. He allegedly brought several Zimbabwean models and other women to his hotel room where he took photographs and videos, the newspaper reported. As Reynolds was being taken to a government vehicle he demanded that officials give him his mobile phone and laptop computer, according to The Herald, whose reporter arrived at the hotel as the arrest was taking place. Reynolds complained that he was not expecting such treatment when he had brought investors to the country. He said he had been to Zimbabwe 17 times and had called for U.S. sanctions to be dropped against President Robert Mugabe and his associates.

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