North Carolina Democrat LaKesha Womack, who recently won a House seat in the midterm elections, is scheduled to appear in court on November 10 to face a felony car theft charge. The charge stems from allegations that Womack failed to return a rental car valued at approximately $20,000 in 2019.
Womack defeated Republican Rep. Tim Moore in North Carolina's 14th Congressional District. She was served the felony summons on October 11 during a campaign event in Polk County, weeks after her electoral victory.
A criminal summons was initially issued in January 2020 but was not served until October. If convicted of the Class H felony, Womack could face sentencing ranging from four months to over three years in prison. While a conviction would not automatically disqualify her from serving in Congress, House rules suggest that lawmakers sentenced to two or more years in prison would be expected to avoid committee assignments and party leadership positions. Expulsion from the House would require a two-thirds vote of its members.
Womack has stated that candidates for public office should be held accountable and that voters deserve transparency. She has also mentioned a medical emergency that required hospitalization and that she was homeless around the time of the alleged incident, though she has not elaborated on how these circumstances relate to the rental car accusation. Her campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment.