Richard Kelly (Florida politician)
Richard Kelly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Gunter |
| Succeeded by | Bill McCollum |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 31, 1924 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | August 22, 2005 (aged 81) Stevensville, Montana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Unknown Loraine Judy Claire Kelly |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Northern Colorado (BA) Vanderbilt University University of Florida (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
Richard Kelly (July 31, 1924 – August 22, 2005) was an American politician from Florida. He was a Republican. He was convicted of taking bribes in the 1980 Abscam scandal.
Early life and career
Kelly was born July 31, 1924, in
While in Colorado, he married for the first of five times.
Troubled by accusations of insanity in the 1970s, Kelly allowed himself to be examined by doctors, who declared him sane, allowing him to boast that he was "the only Congressman officially certified as not cuckoo."[5]
He served three terms in the House of Representatives, starting in 1975. He opposed Food Stamps, aid to the failing Chrysler Corporation and financially troubled New York City.[1] He attributed New York City fiscal crisis to the pay for police and firefighters and aid to poor people: "The unions have forced industry out of the city. The uniformed services are the highest-paid in the U.S. of A. And welfare? City politicians keep jacking up the rates to get the ghetto vote. No doubt about it."[6]
Abscam scandal and later life
In 1980, Kelly was involved in the FBI undercover Abscam scandal and failed to win renomination, losing to Republican Bill McCollum.
Kelly was the only Republican member of the House to vote against the expulsion of fellow Abscam target Michael Myers (D-PA). Myers was expelled by a 376-30 vote on October 2, 1980, the House's first expulsion since 1861.
Kelly was convicted of taking $25,000 in bribes.[7] He claimed he had conducted his own undercover operation and spent part of the money to maintain that cover, but was convicted and served thirteen months of a 6 to 18 month sentence at the federal prison camp at Eglin Air Force Base. During his third term, he also divorced his wife and married his secretary.[5] He was released from a halfway house in 1986.[7][8][9]
Kelly died August 22, 2005, in
See also
- List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes
- List of federal political scandals in the United States
References
- ^ a b c Groer, Anne (21 October 1985). "The Life And Times Of Richard Kelly -- Will It Sell?". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ a b KELLY, Richard (1924-2005). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ "THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RICHARD KELLY -- WILL IT SELL?". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Karl, Frederick B.; Davis, Marguerite (1978). "Impeachment in Florida" (PDF). Florida State University Law Review. 6 (1).
- ^ a b Craig Pittman. OH, Florida!. p. 102.
- ISBN 978-0-231-15032-3)
- ^ a b Libit, Daniel (2009-05-08). "The lamest excuses ever". The Politico. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
- ^ Wolfgang Saxon (August 26, 2005). "Richard Kelly, 81, Congressman Who Went to Prison in Scandal, Dies". The New York Times.
- ^ Lucy Morgan, St. Petersburg Times (August 27, 2005). "RICHARD KELLY, 81, SERVED TIME FOR BRIBERY". sun-sentinel.com.
- ^ Morgan, Lucy (25 August 2005). "Representative convicted in Abscam dies". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
External links
- United States Congress. "Richard Kelly (id: K000077)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
This article incorporates public domain material from KELLY, Richard. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
