Senior British lawmaker cleared of rape, sexual assault charges

Published January 08, 2015

The former deputy speaker of Britain's House of Commons has been cleared of rape and sexual assault after a trial that threatened to end a high-flying political career.

Nigel Evans, a Conservative first elected to Parliament in 1992, was arrested last year. Prosecutors alleged he used his political position to sexually assault seven young men between 2002 and 2013, some of them inside the Houses of Parliament.

Evans accused the men of making up their allegations or exaggerating moments of "drunken over-familiarity."

A jury at Preston Crown Court cleared him Thursday of nine counts of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault.

Evans broke down in tears as the last "not guilty" was read out.

The 56-year-old resigned as deputy speaker after his arrest, but has remained in Parliament.

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https://www.foxnews.com/world/senior-british-lawmaker-cleared-of-rape-sexual-assault-charges