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California rep sued over DUI death, questions raised about ties to driver


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WestVirginiaRebel
california-rep-sued-over-dui-death-questions-raised-about-ties-to-driverFox News:

California Rep. Lois Capps is being sued by the family of a young woman who was killed in a drunk-driving accident by one of her staffers, amid allegations her office initially tried to help the aide -- before abruptly cutting him off when the victim was taken off life support.

 

Raymond Victor Morua III, an Iraq war veteran, was employed as a district representative for the Democratic congresswoman when he struck 27-year-old Mallory Rae Dies in a crosswalk on Dec. 6. Morua pleaded guilty on April 15 to hitting Dies with his Dodge Caliber and fleeing the scene after attending a holiday party put on by local newspaper the Santa Barbara Independent.

 

Dies was taken off of life support and died on Dec. 11.

 

An attorney for the Dies family alleges in the wrongful death federal lawsuit that Morua was working in an official capacity for Capps the night of the party, something Morua has claimed under oath. If Morua was working for Capps that night, the congresswoman, the U.S. government and Morua, who are all named in the suit, could be held liable.

 

Capps spokesman Chris Meagher told FoxNews.com that Morua started out as an intern, and was subsequently hired as a caseworker in 2012 -- and then a district representative due to his "excellent" work. He said Capps believes the death of Dies was a "tragic event," and her thoughts and prayers are with the family.

 

Capps' office, though, has said Morua decided to attend the invitation-only party on his own.

 

However, a five-part series in The Santa Barbara News-Press by freelance journalist Peter Lance claims Morua not only attended the party on behalf of Capps, but discussed policy while he was there with constituents. According to the report, Morua told his girlfriend via text message that he was at the party with Meagher.

 

Local media reports also show Morua appeared alongside the Capps for many events, including a local Fourth of July parade.

 

"The loyalties surrounding this tragedy are extremely incestuous," Darryl Genis, Morua's lawyer, told the News-Press, "particularly when you consider that my client, Raymond Morua, was with Lois Capps' press secretary, Chris Meagher, at the party."

________

 

Criminal cronyism?


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