Republican senator charged with video voyeurism, extortion
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Rhode Island state senator under investigation by state police since January was arrested Friday on charges of video voyeurism and extortion.
Republican Sen. Nicholas Kettle faces one count of video voyeurism brought by state police for sending pictures of his ex-girlfriend’s “private parts,” Lt. Col. Joseph Philbin said. He also was indicted on two counts of extortion, but Philbin said he could not comment on those counts.
Kettle was being held in jail over the weekend and is to appear in court Monday, he said.
Kettle’s lawyer, Paul DiMaio, called the video voyeurism charge “nonsense” and said he has no idea what the extortion charges are about. He also blasted state police for their tactics, saying they deliberately took Kettle into custody at his workplace on a Friday afternoon, which meant he likely would be held over the weekend.