North Carolina Democrat LaKesha Womack is preparing to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after a surprise election victory, but her political breakthrough comes with a legal complication: she is scheduled to appear in court next week on a felony car theft charge.
Womack defeated Republican Rep. Tim Moore in North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District during Tuesday’s midterm elections, flipping a Republican-held seat as Democrats made significant gains across the country.
But the newly elected congresswoman’s legal troubles were already attracting attention before voters headed to the polls. Womack was served with a felony summons at a campaign event just weeks before the election.
Her court appearance is scheduled for November 10. The charge reportedly involves an allegation that she failed to return a rental vehicle. Womack has not provided a direct explanation of the circumstances surrounding the accusation.
The pending case does not automatically prevent her from serving in Congress if she is convicted. However, a lengthy prison sentence could affect her ability to participate in congressional activities.
Under House rules, lawmakers sentenced to two or more years in prison are expected to refrain from committee assignments and party leadership positions. Expelling a member of Congress, even following a felony conviction, would require a two-thirds vote of the full House.
Womack previously addressed the allegations in a statement released last month, arguing that candidates should be held accountable and that voters deserve transparency.
“Over the past few weeks, allegations involving me have drawn significant media attention and attack ads from Friends of Tim Moore. Candidates for public office should be held accountable and voters deserve transparency,” she said.
She continued by emphasizing accountability and affordability as central themes of her campaign, adding that elected officials should be evaluated according to consistent standards, including their public service and decisions in office.
For now, Womack's election victory and her upcoming court appearance place her in an unusual position: preparing to enter Congress while facing a felony charge that remains unresolved. The November 10 proceeding could bring further attention to a case that followed her campaign all the way to Election Day.
Womack is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
