Video Surfaces of Bolivian Lawmaker Allegedly Raping Woman Inside Parliament

A disturbing video [WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO] of Bolivian lawmaker Domingo Alcibia Rivera of the Movement Toward Socialism political party allegedly raping a passed-out woman on the Parliament floor leaked onto the internet this week.

Security camera footage from a December 20^th holiday luncheon shows several individuals propping up a passed-out woman in a chair inside the Parliament building. When the individuals exit the room, Rivera stays with the woman and the lights go off. Rivera then appears to rape the woman before being interrupted by people re-entering the room who help place her back in the chair. 

Bolivian media report that Rivera says he plans to cooperate with investigators and denies he raped the woman. “They’re saying that it was rape, but that wasn’t rape,” said Rivera to La Razón.

According to the Huffington Post, the Movement Toward Socialism ethics committee has booted Rivera from the party, and Bolivian President Evo Morales called Rivera’s alleged actions a “serious error.”

Photo credit: Valdiney Pimenta/Flickr