News/Commentary

Democrat senator learns punishment after keying SUV with ‘Biden Sucks’ sticker and lying about it

July 21, 2023 | | Print Article

A Rhode Island Democrat senator has learned his fate from a court after being arrested for viciously keying an SUV with a “Biden Sucks” sticker and then lying about it to police, painting himself as a target of right-wing violence.

(Video Credit: WPRI)

Sen. Joshua Miller, 69, was caught in June committing the act of vandalism on security footage. His victim claimed that he did not even know who the senator was but that did not stop Miller from attempting to turn the tables, proclaiming he was innocent while intimating his target was some kind of extremist.

“I am a state senator. I think he recognized me. I think he is one of the gun nuts,” Miller stated at the time.

He was arrested after the keying and a court has now sentenced him to pay restitution following his admission to charges of vandalism and obstruction of a police officer. The state’s Democrat Party contends he has made up for the act by paying his victim and he will not be reprimanded for his egregious behavior. Miller has no intention of resigning from the State Senate.

“I am truly sorry for my actions in this matter, and I am disappointed in my behavior and lack of judgment,” Miller told reporters outside the 3rd District Court in Warwick on Tuesday, according to The Boston Globe.

“In a blink of an eye, I exhibited a lack of self-control that has impacted my reputation,” Miller admitted. “For that, I only have myself to blame as I am solely responsible for what led to today’s court proceedings.”

During his arraignment, Miller pled no contest to the charges against him. He was ordered to pay $2,850 in restitution to the vehicle owner and to donate $250 to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. On top of that slap on the wrist, if Miller keeps his nose clean for the next year, his record will be expunged, according to The Boston Globe.

Rhode Island Republican Party Chair Joe Powers called the plea deal “disappointing although not surprising.”

“It’s another case of politics as usual in the Ocean State,” Powers told Fox News in an interview. “In pure Rhode Island political fashion, another Democrat gets off with a slap on the wrist and retains his chairmanship of the powerful Health and Human Services Committee and committee assignments with no recourse.”

(Video Credit: NBC 10 WJAR)

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D) rushed to the defense of Miller in typical fashion. He issued a statement to Fox News calling the senator’s actions “deeply regrettable” but commended him as “a dedicated and passionate public servant.”

“I don’t believe that any one of us would want to be judged solely upon our worst moments,” Ruggerio asserted. “Because of his long record of service, because he has taken responsibility for his actions, and because the events of that day had nothing to do with his responsibilities in the Senate or his position as a state senator, we are putting this incident behind us and moving forward.”

“Like all of us who hold elected office, Sen. Miller will ultimately answer to his constituents,” he claimed.

The City of Cranston Solicitor Christopher Millea was quick to contend there was no favoritism in the case.

“Mr. Miller was treated no different than anybody else by the city of Cranston,” he insisted, according to Fox News. “There’s zero politics involved in this.”

When police confronted Miller at his home after the keying, they asked him why he did it.

“Because he was daring me to, basically,” Miller responded, lying about the incident, unless, of course, he felt the very act of having the sticker was a dare.

He then trotted out the “gun nut” accusation against a man he had never even met before. He asserted that his victim was stalking him because he sponsored gun control… another brazen lie.

Via body-cam footage, Miller told officers who stopped him to call police Col. Michael Winquist, who he said was aware of threats from “gun nuts” that were made against him.

“Mr. Miller never reported any threats to Colonel Winquist or any member of the Cranston Police Department,” the police department wrote in a statement.

“Nobody is above the law, including those who make and enforce the laws,” Winquist stated, according to Fox News. “The officers who handled this investigation did so with fairness, integrity, and without preferential treatment.”

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