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British M.P. Is Questioned In Rape Inquiry British M.P. Is Questioned in Rape Inquiry
(35 minutes later)
A senior lawmaker from Britain’s ruling Conservative Party was arrested and questioned by the police on Saturday over allegations of rape and sexual assault involving two men, according to a person familiar with the investigation.A senior lawmaker from Britain’s ruling Conservative Party was arrested and questioned by the police on Saturday over allegations of rape and sexual assault involving two men, according to a person familiar with the investigation.
The police did not release the suspect’s name or job, describing him only as a 55-year-old man from Pendleton, a town in northern England. But the person with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, identified him as Nigel Evans, a Conservative member of Parliament who serves as one of three deputy speakers in the House of Commons.The police did not release the suspect’s name or job, describing him only as a 55-year-old man from Pendleton, a town in northern England. But the person with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, identified him as Nigel Evans, a Conservative member of Parliament who serves as one of three deputy speakers in the House of Commons.
The attacks “are alleged to have been committed in Pendleton between July 2009 and March 2013,” the Lancashire police said in a statement.The attacks “are alleged to have been committed in Pendleton between July 2009 and March 2013,” the Lancashire police said in a statement.
Mr. Evans’s arrest does not necessarily mean he will be charged with a crime, only that he was being interrogated by the police as a suspect. He was re leased on bail later Saturday, and ordered to report back for questioning next month.Mr. Evans’s arrest does not necessarily mean he will be charged with a crime, only that he was being interrogated by the police as a suspect. He was re leased on bail later Saturday, and ordered to report back for questioning next month.
He is one of only a handful of openly gay members of Parliament. In a 2010 interview with The Mail on Sunday in which he publicly acknowledged his sexuality for the first time, Mr. Evans said that he was “tired of living a lie” and that he had been threatened with exposure by rivals.He is one of only a handful of openly gay members of Parliament. In a 2010 interview with The Mail on Sunday in which he publicly acknowledged his sexuality for the first time, Mr. Evans said that he was “tired of living a lie” and that he had been threatened with exposure by rivals.
The British news media reported that Prime Minister David Cameron had been informed of the arrest, but a spokesman for the Conservative Party refused to confirm the reports.The British news media reported that Prime Minister David Cameron had been informed of the arrest, but a spokesman for the Conservative Party refused to confirm the reports.
The news comes at an awkward time politically. The Conservatives were trounced in local elections last week, losing ground to the tiny right-wing U.K. Independence Party.The news comes at an awkward time politically. The Conservatives were trounced in local elections last week, losing ground to the tiny right-wing U.K. Independence Party.
Mr. Evans did not return messages seeking comment.Mr. Evans did not return messages seeking comment.

Sarah Lyall contributed reporting from London.

Sarah Lyall contributed reporting from London.