Newly-elected North Carolina Democrat faces car theft charge

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 6 Nov, 16:22 · Archive

North Carolina Democrat LaKesha Womack, who won a House seat on Tuesday, faces a felony car theft charge and must appear in court on 10 November.

LaKesha Womack was elected to represent North Carolina's 14th Congressional District on Tuesday, defeating Republican representative Tim Moore in a surprise result that was among more than 40 Democratic gains in the election.

Womack faces a felony charge of failing to return a rental car valued at about $20,000 in 2019. She was served a criminal summons at a campaign event on 11 October. She is scheduled to appear in court on 10 November.

Sentencing guidelines for the Class H felony range from four months to more than three years behind bars. If convicted, Womack would not automatically be disqualified from serving in Congress. House rules state that lawmakers sentenced to two or more years of prison should avoid committee assignments and leadership positions, and a two-thirds vote from the full House would be needed to expel a convicted felon. It remains unclear whether the court appearance will delay Womack from being sworn in on 3 January.

How it is being reported

• Democrat who toppled GOP incumbent will head to court on felony charge just days after election upsetDemocrat Lakesha Womack, who defeated Republican Rep. Tim Moore in North Carolina, reportedly faces felony charges over an unreturned rental car.Fox News · 6 Nov, 16:01
• Newly-elected Democrat congresswoman-elect up in court on charge of stealing a rental car days after her surprise midterms winLaKesha Womack unseated Representative Tim Moore on Tuesday in North Carolina's 14th Congressional District, ousting the longtime local politician in a surprise win.Daily Mail · 6 Nov, 16:00
• Dem candidate gets elected to the House in surprise win — and has a court appearance for car theft next weekWomack is accused of failing to return a rental car – valued at about $20,000 – in 2019.New York Post · 6 Nov, 04:41

In this story: LaKesha Womack · Tim Moore · North Carolina's 14th Congressional District · House of Representatives

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log