By Joseph Edelen

DOVER — Democratic Glasgow-area Rep. Eric Morrison has apologized for controversial remarks he made during the April 17 House Education Committee regarding violent crimes listed under Delaware Code, specifically statutory rape.

During the hearing, lawmakers in the House of Representatives considered Rep. Morrison’s House Bill 290, which would have allowed students who have been convicted of a violent felony to qualify for the Student Excellence Equals Degree (SEED) scholarship offered by Delaware Technical Community College and the University of Delaware.

Lawmakers clashed over the bill before its defeat, and as Rep. Morrison explained his intention to give convicted Delawareans second chances and an opportunity at higher education, he remarked that, of the more than 80 offenses listed under that section of state law, not all are inherently violent.

The Glasgow Democrat referenced crimes like racketeering, extortion and bestiality, but also cited statutory rape, noting that the vast majority of such crimes are not violent in the way that is oftentimes depicted in law or in news reports.

“We’re talking about statutory rape, and we’re not talking about violent rape. We’re talking about — and I know that I’m not, in a sense, using the word ‘consent’ properly — but we’re talking about two people who consented to it,” Rep. Morrison explained during the April 17 hearing.

“We do have Romeo and Juliet laws in Delaware, so you could be talking, for example, about a 31-year-old who had, quote unquote, consensual sex with a 17-year-old, and then they are arrested, and they are charged with a certain degree of rape, but it’s not rape in the way in which we think of it. When we see these rape cases, the vast majority of those are of that ilk.”

The Democratic lawmaker apologized for his remarks on Wednesday after receiving feedback from a number of individuals and organizations throughout the state. In a statement, the lawmaker committed to continuing his work on “policies that empower and protect survivors of sexual assault.”

“After engaging in discussions with advocates, community members, and my colleagues, I realize that my comments in the House Education Committee were triggering and upsetting for many individuals. I did not express well what I meant to express. For that, I extend my sincerest apologies,” Rep. Morrison said in statement.

“Of course, it was never my intention to minimize the seriousness of rape. I wholeheartedly acknowledge the profound trauma and devastation that sexual assault inflicts upon survivors.”

In the apology, Rep. Morrison referenced several pieces of legislation that he has spearheaded to safeguard survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

This includes House Bill 151, which became law in September 2023 and allows domestic violence victims to request protective orders for financial abuse, as well as outstanding legislation like House Bill 327, which protects sexual assault victims from retaliatory lawsuits by their abuses; and House Bill 17, which contains a clause for employers to grant time off so employees subject to domestic violence can attend to legal matters.

The comments made by Rep. Morrison during the House Education Committee hearing also drew pushback from House Republicans during the meeting and in the following week.

While the legislation was considered in committee, Rep. Bryan Shupe, R-Milford, said his colleague’s logic was “trying to disguise or wash over” violent crime, specifically drug dealing and rape.

The controversial remarks led the House Republican caucus to release a statement on Wednesday to condemn the statements made by Rep. Morrison.

“While Rep. Morrison is factually wrong — racketeering, extortion, and bestiality often involve violence — our antipathy for his declaration centers on his views of sexual assault and rape,” the House Republican caucus said in a statement.

“His belief that most sex offenders are being victimized by ‘a whole lot of misconceptions’ is only surpassed by his casual dismissal of the mental and physical trauma suffered by the victims of sex crimes he perceives as non-violent. It would be concerning for any citizen to exhibit such hubris, but for a lawmaker, it strikes us as dangerously misguided.”

House Republicans acknowledged Rep. Morrison’s First Amendment rights and applauded their Democratic colleagues for voting against House Bill 290’s release from committee but added they “are deeply disappointed that a week has passed without the House Majority caucus condemning Rep. Morrison’s statements.”

House Democratic leadership acknowledged Rep. Morrison’s apology in a statement released on Thursday, writing that the caucus stands “united in stating that all forms of sexual assault, to include rape, are inherently violent.”

“As a caucus, we strive to build and heal, recognizing the impact of hurtful words,” read the statement by Speaker of the House Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear; Majority Leader Melissa Minor-Brown, D-New Castle; and Majority Whip Kerri Evelyn Harris, D-Dover. “We are fully committed to providing support and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence.”