Politics & Government
Could Jim Reams Return as Rockingham County Attorney?
The embattled County Attorney is back in court Monday seeking reinstatement.
A judge has suggested that the Attorney General cannot keep Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams on suspension if criminal charges are not being filed against him, according to the Union Leader.
Reams was suspended amid an investigation into misconduct, including alleged sexual harassment. Attorney General Joseph Foster filed a complaint in superior court for the removal of Reams as the county attorney, based on a five-month investigation.
The case began in October 2013 with a call from a female attorney in the Rockingham County Attorney's Office describing sexual harassment. Reams was suspended Nov. 6, 2013. The AG complaint for Reams' removal is attached as a PDF.
It is an official misconduct complaint. Foster contends that Reams' misconduct encompassed his entire tenure and that he is unable to make fair and objective prosecutorial decisions.
Reams has said he will not run for re-election, and he maintains he is innocent of the allegations.
Reams plans to be back in Merrimack County Superior Court on Monday to pursue reinstatement, and the court also has on its docket the AG's removal complaint in "New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph A. Foster and Rockingham County Commissioners v. James Reams."
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The back-to-back hearings on different motions are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 7.
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