Former U.S. Congressman
Melvin Jay Reynolds after his arrest at the
Bronte Garden Hotel in
Harare. Charged with overstaying his visa and
possessing pornography, given
the byzantine world of despot Robert
Mugabe, his government contacts
may have gotten him into trouble.
Former U.S. Congressman Arrested for Overstaying Visa; Possessing
Pornography (The Herald, Zimbabwe)
According to this news item from Zimbabwe's state-run Herald, former
U.S. Congressman Melvin Reynolds, who resigned in disgrace in 1995 after, among
other charges, raping a campaign worker, has been arrested in Zimbabwe for
overstaying his visa and possessing pornographic material. Despite Reynolds'
checkered past, given his contacts within the government of Zimbabwe despot
Robert Mugabe, the charges cannot be taken at face value.
One-Time Congressman Melvin Reynolds, who resigned his office in disgrace in 1995, is in the news again. Now charged with overstaying his visa and possessing pornography, it appears his contacts in the Mugabe regime were unwilling or unable to help him.
Former
United States Congressman for Chicago Melvin Jay Reynolds,
who entered Zimbabwe last year purporting to be a middleman for foreign
investors in tourism, was arrested yesterday for violating immigration laws and
possessing pornographic material. He had also accumulated unpaid bills totaling
$24,500 at two hotels.
Reynolds,
who was convicted on 12 counts of statutory rape, obstruction of justice, and
solicitation of child pornography before resigning his U.S. Congressional seat,
was arrested by police detectives and immigration officials at the Bronte
Garden Hotel.
Senior
Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba first said that
police wouldn't have arrested someone like Reynolds, but Assistant Regional
Immigration Officer Francis Mabika differed and
confirmed the incident, saying he would provide more information about the case
today.
"He
has been picked up. Investigations are still underway. Revealing information now
would jeopardize investigations that are underway," he said.
According
to a former aide identified as Sunny, Reynolds was in possession of
pornographic material he shot himself while in the company of a model (name withheld)
and several girls in his various hotel rooms.
"His
travel documents were not up to date ... he used to bring beautiful women at
different times. He employed five of us including a personal assistant and a
driver. He accrued unpaid hotel bills of more than $24,500 at two local hotels,"
Sunny said.
Another
closely placed source said Reynolds shot more than 100 pornographic videos and
a 2,000 nude pictures while in the company of at least ten women - including
famous models.
"Reynolds
entered Zimbabwe on Nov. 13 via the Plumtree Border
Post, where he was given a 14 day visa, which was later renewed and expired on
Dec. 10. Since then he has been in the country illegally. ... He conducted these
acts in the hotel rooms, guarded by the four personal aides on his payroll,"
Officer Francis Mabika said.
When
The Herald arrived at the Bronte
Garden Hotel at around 1pm, Reynolds was being escorted to a vehicle and was
demanding his mobile phone and laptop from the officials.
"It
is the way it is - and I have been in this country 17 times during which I have
done a lot of work for the people, including the fight against sanctions. I
misplaced my passport - but I found it, which should suggest that I'm not
certain if I breached immigration laws against this country.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
"I
am sure I'll find out about that. They denied me my passport so I can't contact
the United States Embassy - which is a violation of international laws,"
said Reynolds.
Reynolds
said he wasn't expecting such treatment after bringing several investors in the
country.
Recently,
Reynolds hogged the limelight after being connected to the construction of the
five-star, $145 million Hilton Hotel and office complex along SamoraMachel Avenue in Eastlea, which was originally scheduled to open in April,
but has been delayed until late 2016.
He
toured the construction site in the company of Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi,
Publicity and Information Minister Webster Shamu, Minister
of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development Ignatius Chombo, and businessman and former footballer FaraiJere.
According
to American newspapers, in 1995, Reynolds resigned from a Congressional post he
held for two years, after being convicted of statutory rape, bank fraud,
obstruction of justice, and having sex with a 16-year-old campaign volunteer.
He
was sentenced to five years in prison before being given an additional sentence
of 78 months in federal prison for 15 unrelated counts of bank fraud and lying
to investigators.
He
completed serving his first sentence, and served 42 months for the latter
charges before former U.S. President Bill Clinton commuted his sentence for
bank fraud in 2001.
Reynolds
was released from prison and served his remaining time in a halfway house. He
was hired by Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow-Push Coalition to help reduce the number
of young Blacks going to prison.
Halfway
houses are meant to reintegrate into society people who have been recently
released from prison.
