Vermont GOP Rep. Mary Morrissey Apologizes After Being Caught On Camera Repeatedly Pouring Water Into Democrat’s Tote Bag

Vermont state Rep. Mary Morrissey (R) apologized after being caught on camera frequently pouring water into state Rep. Jim Carroll’s (D) tote bag for five months.

In January and February, Carroll saw that his tote bag, which he hangs in the statehouse hallway, had been wet at least once a week.

When he returned to work from rehab after being charged with driving under the influence in February, it became an almost daily occurrence.

Carroll suspected Morrissey was the culprit, so he hid a $23 spy camera behind a scarf on the opposite wall. The camera captured Morrissey pouring water in his bag while it hung on the hook on April 23 and April 26.

He shared the caught-on-tape antics, recorded in March, with House Speaker Jill Krowinski, who then confronted the Republican Vermont representative.

The video shows Morrissey quickly pouring a cup of water into the bag while she walked swiftly by.

“This is a truly disturbing situation that is at odds with our legislative practices,” Krowinski said in a statement. “The integrity and decorum of our legislative proceedings and of legislators are of paramount importance, and any actions or behaviors that compromise these values will be thoroughly investigated and addressed.”

During her apology on the House floor on Monday, Morrissey mentioned that she was “truly ashamed of her actions,” calling it “disrespectful conduct.”

“I have given my sincere apology to Jim directly and publicly and will be working towards resolution and restoration through our legislative process,” she said. “It was conduct most unbecoming of my position as a representative and as a human being and is not reflective of my 28 years of service and civility that I do value toward my colleagues.”

“I hope Jim, my legislative colleagues, all of our statehouse staff and those who work in this building, and the citizens of Vermont can forgive me for my poor judgment and actions and allow me to take the necessary steps to repair what I have done,” Morrissey mentioned.

Carroll also talked about the issue on the House floor.

“To Representative Morrissey, I hear the sincerity in your voice, and I got to be quite frank with you, the body, our constituents, and the people of Vermont,” he stated.

“For five months, I went through this, and each time – each day that I went through this – Representative Morrissey had a choice to make,” he said. “And each time that she didn’t choose to either drop it or to come to me and say, ‘Look, I’m sorry, we screwed up. Let’s put our heads together and try to serve our constituents the way they ought to be, and for that, I’m really sorry and sad that that happened.'”

“But frankly, you know, after five months of that – and it was, it was torment, there’s no doubt about it, with me anyway – there’s going to be some work to be done between the two of us and that first time that we sit down together, it’s going to be kind of awkward, but we have to start somewhere, so thank you,” Carroll concluded.