A state representative from Franklin was arrested Thursday and is accused of engaging in revenge porn, the sharing of another person’s explicit images without their consent.
Bryan Morse, 31, a first-term Republican lawmaker, faces a felony charge of nonconsensual dissemination of sex images. In May, an unidentified woman told police that Morse posted sexually explicit images of her on social media, according to the Nashua Police Department.
Morse has disputed the woman’s accusation, saying in a statement on Facebook that the allegation is false and that he intends to plead not guilty.
Morse has supported bills to bar transgender women and girls from competing on women’s sports teams and to ban books containing obscene or sexual content. He said his political work has led to “death threats, personal attacks, harassing phone calls and messages and even threats toward my home and family.”
Morse is collecting online donations for his legal fees.
“Just a year ago, I stood before you, committed to changing the narrative around education— to fight against indoctrination and raise proficiency scores,” a statement on his donation page reads. “Little did we know that this commitment would lead down such a dark path, filled with threats, legal battles and an onslaught of false accusations.”
Morse was released on a $200 cash bail and his arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 18 in Nashua District Court.