A Republican arrested after winning his race for a Georgia House seat decided to step aside rather than face possible suspension as soon as he took office later this month.
Danny Rampey’s decision means a special election will be held on January 31 to choose the new representative for the Winder-based House seat, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Rampey, 67, was arrested last month after investigators said he stole prescription narcotics from the retirement complex he runs.
Republican leaders were pressuring Rampey to step aside before new lawmakers are sworn in on January 9 because the special election to fill the seat would only go to Republicans since Rampey did not have a Democratic opponent in the election. of November.
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Rampey’s withdrawal “will ensure that his constituents have a voice in this session of the General Assembly following the special election,” House Speaker Jan Jones and House Speaker Jon Burns said in a joint statement to the newspaper.
A member of the Georgia House of Representatives retired from office due to a drug arrest last month. Danny Rampey was caught stealing prescription narcotics from a retirement home he managed.
The newspaper was unable to reach Rampey’s attorney.
Rampey was charged in Barrow County with six counts of obtaining drugs by misrepresentation or theft, six counts of exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult, five counts of robbery and one count of drug possession.
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Rampey and his family own a chain of personal care homes in Northeast Georgia. Authorities said they began investigating him after missing prescription narcotics were reported.
