Mel Reynolds Pleads Guilty to Immigration Charge; Porn Charges Dropped

Updated Feb. 21, 2014

A Zimbabwean magistrate on Friday dismissed pornography charges against Mel Reynolds, reports the Associated Press, but the ex-congressman pleaded guilty to violating the nation's immigration laws.

Accused of taking nude photos and making pornographic videos of models in his African hotel room, ex-con/ex-congressman Mel Reynolds had pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a Zimbabwe courtroom. The charges had to be dropped because the charges weren't properly obtained, the court ruled.

Francis Mabika, an immigration officer in Zimbabwe, told the state-owned newspaper The Herald that Reynolds was arrested at the Bronte Garden Hotel for living in Zimbabwe without a valid visa. As he was led away, he asked arresting officers if he could keep his iPhone 4s and laptop.

Prosecutors said photos and videos of men and women having sex were found on the ex-congressman's phone.

Reynolds has tried to "recast himself as an American liaison to African business interests, the Tribune reports.

The Herald quoted Reynolds: "I misplaced my passport but I found it, implying that I am not certain if I breached immigration laws against this country.

Related: Mel Reynolds Back in the Pornographic Spotlight — Arrested in Zimbabwe

In the early 1990s, Reynolds represented the 2nd Congressional District, which includes parts of the South Side and southeast suburbs, until he resigned in disgrace after he was caught having sex with a teen-age campaign worker. His seat was taken by Jesse Jackson Jr., who also left office in disgrace in 2012. Reynolds tried to win the seat back in a special election, but only secured 1 percent of the vote.