Former Democratic Aide Accused of Drugging Victim with Ambien Admits to Sexual Assault

Cortney O'Brien | December 03, 2014 11:00 AM

Donny Ray Williams Jr., who once served as a staff director for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee, pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexually assaulting two women in 2010.

WaPo has the unsettling details:

Prosecutors say that on July 22, 2010, Williams invited a female congressional colleague to his Capitol Hill apartment and promised to introduce her to Senate employees. At the house, prosecutors said, Williams spiked a drink with Ambien. The woman, according to court documents, fell into a “deep sleep,” at which point Williams raped her.
A month later, prosecutors said, Williams invited another woman to his home and gave her alcoholic beverages. They said he had sexual contact with her when she was too intoxicated to give her consent.

In 2012, Williams flatly denied these allegations as 'absolutely and completely false.' Now, he's changed his tune, pleading guilty to four charges, including third degree sexual abuse, two misdemeanor charges of sexual abuse, and one charge of threats to do bodily harm.

Here are the consequences Williams faces, according to Wapo:

Williams had been indicted on 10 counts, but prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining charges. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors said they would seek a suspended prison term and five years of supervised probation. Williams also would have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

I have three hopes for this case: First, the justice system does its job and Williams is punished for his disturbing crimes. Second, those boisterous women's rights groups speak up. And third, the media covers this as they covered the GOP staffer who wrote that insensitive, (yet perhaps not career ending) Facebook post about Sasha and Malia Obama's fashion choices. This tweet is a good indication of how much faith I have in that last one.