Months after child abuse allegations first surfaced against state Rep. Rick Roeber 鈥� then a candidate for the Lee鈥檚 Summit district 鈥� the Missouri House of Representatives voted Wednesday to expel the Republican.
While no lawmakers voted against expulsion, Rep. Bruce DeGroot, R-Ellisville, voted 鈥減resent.鈥�
In a somber discussion on the House floor, lawmakers said they found the allegations credible and criticized prosecutors for not bringing charges against Roeber when the abuse was reported decades ago.
鈥淲e believe the state has failed Rick Roeber鈥檚 family 鈥� and horribly 鈥� said Rep. Travis Fitzwater, the ethics committee chair. 鈥淭he abuses this family endured are to this day devastating.鈥�
A House ethics committee investigated the allegations and recommended expulsion in its report released . The 10-member body found 鈥渃lear and convincing鈥� evidence that Roeber physically abused his children and sexually abused two of them. Lawmakers interviewed three of Roeber鈥檚 children, who are now adults, and spoke with Roeber鈥檚 ex-wife. In addition to the abuse allegations, two witnesses alleged that Roeber drowned several puppies.
The committee also reviewed over 200 pages of documents and questioned Roeber, who has denied the allegations. He said they were made as a 鈥減olitical hit.鈥� Roeber did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, criticized Roeber鈥檚 defense, noting that the children were 9 and 5 at the time of the alleged sexual abuse.
鈥淭his is not a political hit piece,鈥� Vescovo said. 鈥淣or is it a viable defense. This is not a witch hunt.鈥�
The abuse was first reported to authorities in 1993. After another child reporting being sexually abused, authorities were notified again in 2001. No criminal charges have been filed.
鈥淭he State of Missouri has failed these children for over 20 years,鈥� the ethics report concludes. 鈥淎lthough this Committee cannot change the past, this Committee can provide a clear record of Respondent's abusive conduct.鈥�
Rep. Richard Brown, D-Kansas City, said the committee found Roeber鈥檚 testimony untrustworthy. The report states that Roeber was combative and defiant when he spoke with committee members.
鈥淭he report is disturbing,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淩ep. Roeber is not fit to serve in this body.鈥�
Earlier this month the committee contacted the Jackson County prosecutor鈥檚 office following concerns about a minor child who had regular contact with Roeber. A spokesman for the prosecutor said the office is currently reviewing documents it requested from the ethics committee. A spokesman for the Lee's Summit Police Department said it has no active investigation of Roeber.
The abuse allegations were first reported by the in late September when Roeber was running for the seat held by his late wife, . She died in 2019. While called on Roeber to withdraw his candidacy, didn鈥檛 sign on to the letter.
Roeber was removed from the Republican caucus in . He attempted to step down from his seat last week, but the House so the ethics committee could complete its report.
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