Ex-Congressman Convicted of Rape Now Facing Porn Charges in Zimbabwe

A disgraced former congressman convicted of rape charges more than a decade ago in the U.S. is now facing serious charges in Zimbabwe.

According to Reuters, Mel Reynolds, a former Illinois congressman was arrested at a hotel in Zimbabwe on Monday. He was due in court on Wednesday to face charges of possessing pornography and not having a valid visa.

State prosecutors charge that
Reynolds had been caught with “nude pictures and videos of naked women
and men having sexual intercourse” on his mobile phone, according to the
copy of the charge sheet seen by Reuters. Possession of pornography is illegal in Zimbabwe.

Prosecutors
also say Reynolds was living in the southern African country with an
expired visa after arriving in November. He could be deported if he is
convicted. The state-owned Herald newspaper reported on Tuesday that Reynolds had run up $24,500 in unpaid hotel bills.

He now faces at least two years in prison if convicted.

Reynolds was convicted of statutory rape, solicitation of
child pornography and obstruction of justice in Illinois in 1995 and forced to resign his seat. He had reportedly come to Zimbabwe to work with foreign investors in the tourism industry.