Freshman St. Croix Senator Diane Capehart recently took a stand against beleaguered senator Alicia “Chucky” Hansen, contending that Hansen should not be a member of the 30th Legislature because of the Supreme Court’s ruling that found Hansen to be ineligible, based on crimes she committed that fall under the “moral turpitude” umbrella.
Capehart’s position caused some in the political arena to cringe because many fear backlash from the veteran Sen. Hansen. But speaking to the VI Consortium in a recent interview, Capehart said she feared “no one but God.”
“I’ve been taking [pressure] for two years,” Capehart revealed. “I fear no one but God. Right is right and wrong is wrong; that’s how I look at it.”
Capehart said she wasn’t looking to stir up controversy, but her conscience bothered her that everyone was steering clear of the issue because the senator mired in the problem “may be the most popular” or the “most liked.”
“I’m not looking for a fight, this is not personal for me–and I get along well with everyone. So, as I said, right is right and wrong is wrong. And my conscience won’t allow me to continue to condone something because you may be the most popular senator. You may [even] be the most liked senator. I don’t know. But if it was me, would that have happened to me where I would have been ousted? I don’t know, but I’m not going on that. I’m requesting a Committee of a the Whole meeting. I’m requesting that this body meets [so we can] discuss this,” Capehart explained.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Sen. Capehart said: “Based on the law, we have no other recourse. To not act on this matter places the body itself in legal jeopardy and suggests that the body condones non-compliance with the law. I refuse to be a part of such a situation.”
A final judgement on the issue of Sen. Hansen’s eligibility to be on the November 4 General Election ballot should come today. District Court Chief Justice Wilma A. Lewis gave the embattled senator’s legal team–who filed a petition with the Superior Court on behalf of five clients who signed petitions for Hansen’s name to appear on the November 4 General Election ballot–until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to bring more evidence that supports their case.
Judge Lewis should be issuing a verdict and opinion on the case shortly.
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