First Ever Transgender State Rep Resigns After Arrest for Allegedly Stalking Woman

New Hampshire state Representative Stacie Laughton, a biological male who identifies as transgender and has an extensive criminal background dating back to 2008, will resign from office in the city of Nashua, after an arrest over the alleged stalking of a woman. 

According to NHJournal, “Disgraced New Hampshire Democrat Stacie Laughton (D-Nashua) has resigned from the House of Representatives.” The resignation comes after a November 12 arrest for stalking in violation of a court order. If convicted Laughton could serve up to nine months in jail.

Laughton was the “first transgendered individual” elected to a state legislature according to local news. Laughton’s criminal background began in 2008 with a conviction for credit card fraud. Laughton was sentenced to up to fifteen years in prison for the fraud charge and an additional falsifying evidence charge. The sentence was reduced to 1 year and Laughton served four months and was released under the condition of “good behavior.”

Laughton ran for New Hampshire state legislature in 2012 and was elected to office. Under New Hampshire law, felons are not eligible for hold public office until their ‘final discharge’ from prison. Laughton was not able to run in 2012 as it was in the 10 year “good behavior” window and had to vacate after the election. 

Laughton was later convicted for a 2015 incident where Laughton called in a bomb threat to the Southern Medical Center hospital in Nashua and Laughton “blamed ‘mental illness’ for the incident.” Laughton was arrested on a felonly charge which was eventually reduced to a misdemeanor. Laughton then won a seat as a Nashua Selectman for Ward 4 in 2019 and became a state representative after winning a 2020 election.

In 2021, Laughton was charged with sending fake texts to the city’s 911 service a dozen times between May and July 2021. Laughton denied the charges and said the texts were the result of a malicious prankster.  9 out of 12 charges were eventually dropped for which Laughton was ordered to community service.

In July of 2022, Laughton was served a restraining order against an unnamed woman. According to local news, Laughton was re-elected in the November midterms and then arrested on November 12 for stalking in violation of a civil restraining order.

Democrat state Representative Timothy Horrigan tweeted on November 15, “For what it’s worth, Rep. Laughton is a lifelong Granite Stater. She’s gotten into a lot of trouble over the years & she keeps getting into trouble, but she’s basically a good person.  She’s not violent or abusive, or harmful to anyone other than herself.”

Laughton’s resignation gives the New Hampshire GOP a greater majority in the state House of Representatives.

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