A House Ethics Committee investigation has led to the Missouri House of Representatives sanctioning a member for sending obscene text messages to another member.
The 2025 messages were from Rep. Jeremy Dean, D-Springfield, and went to Rep. Cecelie Williams, R-Dittmer. They talked about doing an oral sex act with President Trump. The texts were sent during a politically-fueled debate by lawmakers in September to change Missouri’s Congressional voting districts.
“I received two text messages that crossed every professional and ethical boundary,” Williams said during Thursday’s House session.
She is a domestic violence survivor who endured years of pain and terror at the hands of her ex-husband. Williams said after the messages were sent, she walked the halls of the Capitol differently – a little more cautious, a little more guarded, sometimes even a bit insecure.
“All because of one message that was unappreciated, unwanted, and entirely unprovoked,” she said.
Williams said she lives with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Dean’s actions have intensified those triggers for her.
“In this building, we are not just co-workers, we are elected representatives of the people of Missouri. We are held to a higher standard, one that should exceed any corporate or private workplace,” said Williams.
Williams publicly shared her abusive past last year. She said silence is far more dangerous than discomfort.
“Silence may have been my survival once, but today my voice is my defense,” according to Williams.
She said Dean knew about her trauma but chose to send the texts anyways.
“In the days that followed, instead of his conduct being questioned, mine was,” Williams told the House. “I was asked, ‘What did you send first? What did you say to provoke this? Why did you tell anyone at all? What are you trying to gain?’”
Thursday’s vote was 138-10, with the 10 votes cast by Democrats.
“Let us be honest, at any other job, a message like that would be grounds for immediate termination. No questions asked. We cannot excuse behavior in the Capitol that would never be tolerated anywhere else,” said Williams.
Williams voted in favor of sanctioning Dean but said the punishment does not go far enough. She said the House’s current ethics-related process falls short of accountability and said he should be expelled.
“We cannot allow this to happen again. That requires more than today’s vote. It requires changing the rules of this body so that every member present and future is protected,” she said. “We have a duty to protect all members of this institution by enacting rules that truly hold members accountable for their actions.”
Dean has publicly apologized for what he did but has claimed that the complaint was politically motivated.
Williams said Dean’s apology delivered via email was “half-hearted” and cold. She said his words essentially amounted to saying, “I’m sorry you were offended by my text messages.”
The sanctions follow recommendations from the bipartisan Missouri House Ethics Committee. They include a requirement for Dean to stay at least 50 feet from Williams at all times, he cannot serve on House committees and must complete sexual harassment training.
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