Convicted child molester announces bid for Rhode Island mayor as Democrat



A Democratic mayoral candidate in Rhode Island declared that his disturbing criminal history does not disqualify him from running for office.

Providence voters will decide on their next mayor in 2026. Incumbent Mayor Brett Smiley and state Rep. David Morales, both Democrats, are the current leading candidates in the race.

A third Democratic candidate, 54-year-old Michael English, has announced his candidacy. However, a Tuesday report from the Providence Journal raised some concerning details about English's past.

'If I haven't showed how to go from nothing to something again, then no one will.'

English's campaign website describes him as a "blue-collar Democrat" who believes "leadership, honesty, [and] integrity is the best policy." The mayoral candidate states that he is "committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our city."

In an open letter to the citizens of Providence, English admits to having a criminal record.

"I will not deny that in 1996, while running for House District 4, I made immature decisions that led to my arrest and a period of incarceration coupled with I dropped out of Hope High School in 1990 and, simply put, I failed to live up to my potential," English wrote.

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Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

He stated that after completing his sentence, he has dedicated himself to self-improvement.

"I earned my GED, received my paralegal certificate, and continued this disciplined path, ultimately earning a [sic] two Bachelor's, two Master's, and a Doctor [sic] degree," English continued.

English was convicted of child molestation against a 13-year-old girl in 1998, the Providence Journal stated. He reportedly served 15 months in prison, despite the attorney general's office recommending a 40-year sentence, with seven years to serve. The court required English to register as a sex offender, but only for 10 years.

He served another 19 months a decade later, after the victim accused him of violating a no-contact order by driving to her home and suggesting they go out for coffee.

English told the Providence Journal that he was living across the street from the victim at the time.

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Rhode Island state Representative David Morales. Photo by Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

He argued that people who believe his criminal history should disqualify him from running for mayor are "wrong, legally."

"They also should calculate what did I do from then," he told the news outlet. "If I haven't showed how to go from nothing to something again, then no one will."

English stated that neither of the other candidates running for mayor is "good for our city."

"What we've got right now is a socialist and then Mayor Smiley," he told the Providence Journal. "I know I'm the non-favorite in theory, but right now if I play my cards right, I think I could win."

"If I'm the bad guy here, God help you all," English added.

While English's conviction was not expunged or judicially sealed, the file has been marked "confidential" under a decades-old court policy that purports to protect child victims. The Providence Journal noted that the outdated policy has shielded potentially important details about this case and others from the public.

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'JEW HATER': Trump unleashes multiple attacks on Zohran Mamdani, backs Cuomo as NYC mayoral election looms



In the lead-up to Election Day in New York City on Tuesday, President Donald Trump posted several attacks on Democrat mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who is expected to win despite his socialist views.

On Tuesday morning, Trump posted: "Any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!!!"

Mamdani, whom Trump called a "100% Communist Lunatic" back in June, is considered to be the front-runner heading into the election, particularly after he gained the endorsement of New York Governor Kathy Hochul and other Democrat leaders.

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Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images

On Monday afternoon, Trump threatened to withhold all extra federal funds in the event that Mamdani wins the election "because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival! It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm, and I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad."

The post continued: "His principles have been tested for over a thousand years, and never once have they been successful. I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE. He was nothing as an Assemblyman, ranked at the bottom of the class and, as Mayor of potentially, again, the Greatest City in the World, HE HAS NO CHANCE to bring it back to its former Glory!"

Trump also told voters that they "have no choice" but to vote for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, since "a vote for Curtis Sliwa [R] is a vote for Mamdani."

Trump's criticisms of Mamdani, which date back at least to late June, ramped up in the last week. On October 29, Trump said, "The more people learn about Mamdani, the less they like him!"

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LGBTQ champion Zohran Mamdani faces backlash over photo with 'anti-homosexuality' Ugandan lawmaker



With only a week left before the election in the contentious New York City mayoral race, socialist Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism for a photo with a Ugandan lawmaker who supported legislation restricting LGBTQ behavior.

The criticism stems from his July visit to Uganda, where he was born. During his visit, he met with Rebecca Kadaga, a well-known Ugandan lawmaker who served as speaker of the Parliament of Uganda from 2011 to 2021. She has been the first deputy prime minister since 2021, according to the New York Post.

Mamdani appeared at a 'Gays for Zohran' event, posing with two drag queens.

Mamdani and Kadaga appeared in a photo together during his return to Uganda.

"Delighted to meet with Zohran Mamdhani [sic] incoming Mayor of New York City. Good luck in the next phase of elections," Kadaga said in a post on X at the end of July.

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Photo by Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2014 features a variety of punishments for homosexual behavior, including seven years in prison for a variety of acts. A more recent expansion on the law includes the death penalty.

"Ugandans want that law as a Christmas gift. They have asked for it, and we'll give them that gift," Kadaga told Reuters in 2012, prior to the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Act.

However, Mamdani has strongly advocated for LGBTQ issues.

One X user pointed out Mamdani appeared at a "Gays for Zohran" event, posing with two drag queens. According to one source, Mamdani joined the event for National Coming Out Day on October 11.

“Zohran Mamdani ran into the First Deputy Minister while he was at Entebbe airport waiting to board his flight back to New York City. She asked to take a photo,” Mamdani campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec told the Post about the photo with Kadaga.

“If he was aware she was the architect of this horrific attack on queer Ugandans, he would not have done so,” Pekec continued. “Zohran’s belief in universal human rights extends to all people, and he has put forward the most comprehensive plan of any candidate to protect LGBTQ+ New Yorkers."

In July, Zohran Mamdani posted a video on X announcing that he would be heading to Uganda to celebrate his marriage to wife Rama Duwaji with family and friends. The video mocks the "thousands of messages" telling him to "go back to Africa."

In late June, Kadaga extended her congratulations and greetings from Uganda after he won the Democratic nomination in the mayoral race.

Blaze News reached out to Zohran Mamdani's campaign for comment but did not receive a response.

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