New Hampshire State lawmaker accused of ‘revenge porn’ loses seat on Education Committee

A freshman Republican lawmaker from Franklin, New Hampshire, has been stripped of his committee duties after being arrested this week on charges that he shared sexually explicit images of a woman without her permission — a felony offense under the state’s 2016 law banning “revenge porn.”

Rep. Bryan Morse, age 31, was arrested on Thursday and later released after posting $200 cash bail. He is set to appear in a Nashua court on December 18 for arraignment.

On Friday, a spokesperson for House Speaker Sherman Packard announced that Morse had been removed from the House Education Policy Committee. Packard issued no further remarks regarding the situation.

Nashua police say their investigation began in May, when a woman — whose name has not been disclosed — reported that Morse had uploaded explicit photos of her onto social media platforms without her authorization. Police allege the conduct violated the state’s statute banning the nonconsensual distribution of sexually intimate material.

Morse, in a public statement, denied any wrongdoing and pledged to challenge the allegations. “I am pleading not guilty and will be fighting vigorously to clear my name,” he said.

He further suggested that his arrest was politically motivated, claiming that his legislative work — which he described as efforts to “fight against indoctrination” in New Hampshire schools and improve student academic performance — triggered backlash that eventually led to what he maintains are fabricated accusations.

In an online fundraising plea seeking $10,000 for legal expenses, Morse cast his legal troubles as part of a prolonged struggle tied to his public advocacy. “These past few months have brought allegations so serious they shake you to your core — charges that could end my career as a state representative and destroy my family’s peace,” he wrote.

After news of the arrest surfaced, House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson issued a statement condemning the allegations and emphasizing the importance of equal accountability. “If you serve in public office, you do not get to violate the law and expect those you represent to obey it,” Simpson said. “Everyone must be held to the same standard.”

During his first year as a lawmaker, Morse has repeatedly focused on claims that sexually explicit or inappropriate material is being made available to students in public schools. He has frequently posted on social media about what he sees as the dangers of pornographic or obscene content in classrooms and advocated for legislation that would prohibit schools from offering books or other materials judged to be obscene. When Gov. Kelly Ayotte vetoed that legislation in July, Morse issued a sharply worded statement criticizing her decision and portraying the bill as a commonsense measure to protect children.

Morse’s social media presence has also included posts targeting transgender individuals. On his Facebook page, he has claimed that allowing transgender people to use restrooms aligning with their gender identity endangers women’s privacy. In a November 6 post accompanying screenshots of a conversation with a transgender person about bathroom access, Morse wrote, “These are the types of sickos taking away a woman’s right to privacy. They don’t care how you feel or if you are comfortable.”

The felony statute under which Morse was charged was enacted in 2016, signed into law by then-Governor Maggie Hassan with bipartisan support. It prohibits distributing images depicting a person engaged in a sexual act or revealing intimate body parts without their consent. Conviction carries a possible prison sentence of up to seven years, in addition to fines.

Morse’s legislative biography states that he works as an electrical lineman and previously served two years in the Army National Guard. His wife, Samantha Morse, was elected Merrimack County Register of Deeds in 2024.

Source: nphr