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Former Democratic Staffer Charged With Assaults

Capitol Hill veterans might remember Donny Ray Williams Jr. as a 10-year Congressional staffer. That was in better times.

The 36-year-old, who was the staff director of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on State, Local and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration, was indicted on Tuesday in D.C. Superior Court on 10 counts, most of which relate to first- and second-degree assaults he allegedly perpetrated between July and December of 2010. He pleaded not guilty today.

According to court filings, the victims were either “incompetent” or “unconscious.” A Washington Post report fills in some of the blanks.

Williams, who according to LinkedIn worked for Sens. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), has been accused of sexually assaulting four women after drugging their drinks.

One alleged victim, according to the Post, visited Williams’ apartment in July 2010 to “discuss issues before a Senate subcommittee, including Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf oil spill.” The victim said she was given a drink that Williams prepared, and after consuming it, reported losing consciousness.

Williams, who is listed on LinkedIn as a managing partner of Disaster Recovery Strategies LLC, told the Post his career on Capitol Hill was “destroyed” by the charges.

As of today, court filings indicate that a motion hearing will take place Feb. 1 and a jury trial will begin March 19.

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