COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri state lawmaker exiled from the House Republican caucus over accusations of sexually and physically abusing his children years ago said Tuesday that he will step down.
Republican Rep. Rick Roeber in his resignation letter said he will resign Friday. Roeber did not cite any of the allegations against him in his letter of resignation. He said he needs to move out of state to be closer to family and cited that as the reason for his departure from the Legislature.
“In addition to my fiancés children and grandchildren, my mother is in a Memory Care Unit in the state where we are moving,” he wrote. “It is expedient and paramount that I be close to my mother and my brother and his family as she is in her waning years.”
He said he plans to move after he marries his fiancé.
Roeber also said he has accomplished his only legislative goals: voting on education bills and memorializing his late wife, former Republican Rep. Rebecca Roeber. She died in 2019, and her husband succeeded her.
Roeber’s adult children first spoke publicly of the abuse to the Kansas City Star, which published details in September 2020. Voters in suburban Kansas City elected Roeber in November 2020.
After his election, Roeber’s children wrote a letter begging now-Speaker Rob Vescovo to prevent him from serving.
“To think that this man would have a say over laws that impact thousands of children is just too much,” according to the letter signed by three of his children. “A man like this does not deserve the high honor of serving in our government. ”
House Republicans banned him from their caucus, and Vescovo and other House leaders promised an investigation into the claims against him.
Roeber submitted his resignation as the House Ethics Committee was meeting Tuesday.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House will investigate an incoming lawmaker accused of sexually and physically abusing his children years ago when they were young, Republican leaders announced Monday.
House leaders in a joint statement said the House Ethics Committee will launch an investigation of the claims of abuse against incoming Republican Rep. Rick Roeber when the Legislature convenes in January.
Roeber's adult children first spoke publicly of the abuse to the Kansas City Star, which published details in September. Voters in suburban Kansas City elected Roeber in November.
After his election, Roeber's children wrote a letter begging the House's presumptive incoming speaker, Republican Rep. Rob Vescovo, not to allow him to serve.
“To think that this man would have a say over laws that impact thousands of children is just too much,” according to the letter signed by three of his children. “A man like this does not deserve the high honor of serving in our government. ”
Roeber, of Lee’s Summit, did not immediately respond to a Monday request for comment from The Associated Press.
Vescovo and other House leaders in a joint statement said they take the allegations against Roeber “very seriously” and are not allowing him to join the Republican caucus.
They said they'll wait for the Ethics Committee's recommendation before taking further action. The full House could vote to kick out Roeber.
It's unclear how long the committee's investigation will take. Reviews often last months.
House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade said Republicans should have taken a stand against Roeber before the election. But she said banning him from the caucus is a serious step and praised House leaders for supporting an investigation.
“I'm thankful that leadership has very vocally said that they intend for the Ethics Committee to do the investigation and follow it all the way through,” she said. “So overall I view this as a positive step in listening to the victims and honoring the fact that we believe them.”