Oklahoma Senate Punishes Senator Found with Teenage Boy in Motel

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Senate voted Wednesday to impose sanctions on a state senator who police say was found with a teenage boy in a motel room.

Police officials in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident last week involving Sen. Ralph Shortey and a teenager. No charges have been filed.

The Senate voted 43-0 for a resolution that accuses the Oklahoma City Republican of "disorderly behavior" and imposes punishment. Among other things, it removes Shortey from membership and leadership of various Senate committees, bars him from occupying his office and reserved parking spot at the Capitol, blocks his expense allowances and authorship of bills, and revokes his right to have an executive assistant.

Senate officials said Shortey will still receive his $38,400 annual salary as a senator and will be allowed to vote.

Shortey, who was not present in the Senate chamber when the resolution was adopted without opposition, was not in his Capitol office Wednesday and has not responded to requests for comment.

The resolution by Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz, a Republican from Altus, was co-sponsored by 44 of the Senate's 48 senators. In a statement following its passage, Schulz said it was not intended to be "a presumption of guilt or innocence."

"The Oklahoma Senate has full faith that the judicial system will play out appropriately and bring this matter to a lawful conclusion," Schulz said. "This resolution reserves the right of the Oklahoma Senate to pursue further action if more facts come to light."

The chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party, Pam Pollard, released a statement Wednesday condemning Shortey's actions and alleging he is being investigated for a sex crime.

"No person, particularly a child, should be subjected to sex crimes," Pollard's statement says. "While we believe in the right to a fair trial and that all people deserve their day in court, the accusations against Ralph Shortey are in no way in line with the principles of the Oklahoma Republican Party."