State police confirmed on Wednesday what they called an “active investigation” into state Senator Nicholas Kettle, a Republican who represents parts of Coventry, Foster, West Greenwich and Scituate, Rhode Island.
“I can confirm that there is an active investigation involving the Senator and that detectives were at his home this morning,” wrote State Police spokeswoman Laura Kirk in an email to RIPR. “We are not commenting beyond that.”
Kirk declined to comment on the reason for the investigation, but Kettle’s attorney, Paul DiMaio, told WPRI-TV it is unrelated to the senator’s work as a lawmaker. DiMaio suggested the investigation might stem from a domestic issue involving a breakup with Kettle’s girlfriend. He also said Kettle might resign from his Statehouse duties.
Kettle, who is 27 years old, was a student at Rhode Island College when he was first elected to the state Senate in 2010. He was just 20 years old at that time. He currently sits on several Senate committees, including the Finance Committee and the Ethics and Oversight Committee.