A congressional aide in Illinois was just fired after being busted shirtless in a car with a 17-year-old boy he met on Grindr.
56-year-old Dominic “Nick” Provenzano is, er, was deputy district director for US Rep. Randy Hultgren. That is until Hultgren’s office learned this week that a police officer had found a Provenzano and the teen inside an SUV with its lights off parked on a dead-end street.
Ironically, Rep. Hultgren is an antigay “family values” Republican who opposes same-sex marriage and believes creationism should be taught in public schools.
The incident between Provenzano and the teen actually happened last October. According to the recently obtained police report, Provenzano was sitting in the driver’s seat when the officer approached the vehicle. He told the cop that he and the kid, who was clothed, were just “hanging out” and “talking about life.”
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When asked why he was shirtless, Provenzano said he had removed his shirt because he was hot.
Related: Antigay lawmaker caught on Grindr kindly asks for your vote in his re-election campaign
Provenzano, who used to work at a Christian retreat center and has served on the board of the McHenry County Catholic Prayer Breakfast, later told police that the interaction was “consensual in nature” and that he believed the boy was 18-years-old.
Meanwhile, the teen told police he had engaged in sexual contact with Provenzano in the car, but that he “willingly consented” to it after connecting with Provenzano on Grindr.
“There was no allegation of force … and (Provenzano) did not have any special relationship, such as a teacher or family member, that might support charges,” State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally says.
Jameson Cunningham, Hultgren’s communications director, says the socially conservative congressman’s office only learned about the October incident last week.
“Prior to Wednesday, Nick had not made us aware of this,” Cunningham said. “He was immediately placed on leave and then terminated on Monday.”
Provenzano has not issued any comments on the matter.
Related: Someone sent this city councilman’s private Grindr pics to City Hall
BOB K
There are a few editing problems including saying that the congressman is in favor of teaching evolution in schools when I’m sure it’s he is not in favor
ChrisK
Well, now. Talk about Evolution. That would be a first. However, just another lying hypocrite.
Mandrake
The article says he believes creationism should be taught in the public schools.
sanfranca1
It says he is in favor of teaching creationism in schools, not evolution.
Darryl
Bob, there is no mention of ‘evolution’ in the story. Re-read CAREfully! And you say a ‘few’ editing problems?? Be specific or don’t comment.
JamJewel
Some of you really don’t have any common sense: if the article was posted 4-hours ago and both BOB K and ChrisK responded 4-hours ago, it should be obvious that the story was edited/corrected.
Nahald
The Repukelicans have ALWAYS been the party of “Do as I say , not as I do.” Hypocrisy runs deep in their souls.
Aromaeus
Was including the young man’s grindr pic really necessary? Also why wasn’t this man charged with anything? I mean deputy director to an elected official does give him some power in this situation.
Lastly I get some young guys like older men and that’s cool but this kid could have done better.
ChrisK
I get the feeling that $ was involved.
JamJewel
Age of consent law in the state…. plus, “…did not have any special relationship, such as a teacher or family member, that might support charges.”
dwes09
‘“There was no allegation of force … and (Provenzano) did not have any special relationship, such as a teacher or family member, that might support charges,” State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally says.’
If the age of consent was 18, the kid’s proximity to that age as well as the leniency granted law enforcement and judges in most statutory rape laws accounts for the lack of charges.
As for the grindr pic, there is no way to identify the kid unless one already knows him.
seaguy
He’s an aide to a congressman that is hardly a position of power, especially to a 17 yr old who is older than the age of consent which would make charges null.
Juanjo
Before someone goes nuts about the boy being 17, he was above the age of consent so technically this idiot cannot be charged with a crime for having sex with the kid.
ChrisK
It’s a little trickier then that.
“Illinois statutory rape law is violated when a person has consensual sexual intercourse with an individual under age 17. However, if the offender is in a position of authority or trust over the victim, the age of consent is raised to 18.”
troyfight
^ ChrisK did you just do a whip-snap over your head after your correction 😉
tnguy222
I’m not licensed to practice law in Illinois, but typically, a “position of authority’ is defined as a teacher, employer, or some other position with a direct supervisor role.
Under these facts where the senator was not an employer, internship head (giggity), or in any other type of supervisor role, it is unlikely that the statute would be relevant.
In other news, my God, that boy looks crazy delicious — skinny, smooth, jet black hair. I would love to bust that Twinkie open.
Kevan1
Jamjewel & Tnguy222 the older gentlemen was as Chief District Deputy and has certain political powers over all in his state and some in others, so that makes him a person in position of authority.
tnguy222
@Kevan1
‘Position of authority’ is a legal term of art, and does not include as illegal those sexual relationships between a public servant who also exerts general ‘political powers’ on a constituent between 16-18yo. There are very specific carve outs which trigger the statute (ie teacher-student and employer-employee).
Despite what your feelings tell you or how expansive you believe the definition of ‘position of authority’ should be, the Law lives in a world of defined and specific distinctions and meanings. Here, the relationship between the two lovers is not illegal.
Bryguyf69
Kevan1 – I’m not going to defend this hypocrite but you are wrong. First, there is no indication that the kid knew who Provenzano was. And if he did, he’s clearly more intelligent and politically-aware than most 17 y/os. I’m very politically knowledgeable but I certainly don’t know who my congressional aides are. These are people hired by our elected officials to work in the background. As such, do you really expect a 17 yo twink to recognize him? And if not, where then is the power Provenzano holds over him?
Furthermore, the opposite is true. Provenzano is clearly closeted so he had a lot more to lose. Not only did he work for a homophobe but he himself was involved in religious groups. If the kid found out who he was, he could have easily been the victim of blackmail. In fact, he didn’t even need photos or seminal DNA. The fact that both he and Provenzano made statements to the police was official proof. In other words, this kid held much more power over Provenzano than the other way around. In fact, now that story broke, the kid can even sell his story, i.e. revealing Provenzano’s Grindr name, photos and description as well as their emails. So no, Provenzano cannot be charged for having influence over this kid.
ChrisK
Obviously the kid lied on Grindr. However, I’m sure he looks under age so playing ignorant is no defense. Lock him up.
Ummmm Yeah
How does 17 look different than 18 or 19? He’s too old for an 18 year old but it’s still legal and if he was lied to I would think that could be proven by Grindr records. You are supposed to be 18 to be on there first of all and I’m not sure if they keep message records but they may.
Coreydnyc
DOESNT MATTER! 17 is not underage in most states including IL
ChrisK
Anyone who says they’re 18 on Grindr needs extra scrutiny. Of coarse this is what gets this perv off and I’ll bet you that he’s not his first.
Coreydnyc
i couldn’t agree more! Even if a 16 y/o admits to lying about their age and saying they are 18, it’s stil considered rape. Sht can ruin someones life
Tobi
I believe there’s a huge amount of hypocrisy over this issue. I’ve had sex with plenty of 13-year-old boys, albeit when I was the same age, but I was still desperately gagging to get my hands on a Lex Barker muscle god Tarzan look-alike, asap. I succeeded when I was 15, and the 22-year-old bloke concerned remains one of the highlights of my life’s sexual experiences. If you ask most gay men whether they waited until 18, or 21 in the UK back in the 1970s, the majority will tell you “No!” and many will admit to having had fully consensual sex with an older guy, even though it was a criminal offence.
CastleSF
Tobi. Underage people cannot give consent to this sort of thing, even if they are the more aggressive party. We have to protect the young teenage boys from being sexually exploited by these sick adults taking advantage of their innocence.
JamJewel
That’s because y’all can’t wrap your heads around the concept of consenting children. I have never felt abused or molested tho i started seducing men at nine [because, really and truly, what did another nine-year-old have to offer me: there was zero sexual appeal!] yet I suffered parental abuse and psychological damage in the name of discipline at the hands of my father.
CastleSF
Jam, children are incapable of consent nor should they be allowed to give consent to that kind of thing. It’s the law. What part of the law do you not understand? You need to tread very carefully here.
Kevan1
ChrisK if the kid lied it is on him. Plus many boys of legal age look younger than they are.
JamJewel
CastleSF: Read further… my point is the law is selective and superficial and ignores reality. And don’t try to make it seem like I don’t believe that we have molesters and pedophiles amongst us. You will never convince me that a child below the age of consent taking two trains and a bus to be with his/her lover is not giving consent. And this case is proof positive…. had the older person met the criteria of law, he would have been arrested regardless of the fact that the child had given consent. Whether or not you or I like those facts.
Tobi
@CastleSF. “It’s the law. “
Your ‘law’ relies on a place on a map and date on a calendar, doesn’t it?
Coreydnyc
Just a side note I think age of consent is 17 y/o…be careful with your headlines..i’d sue
Coreydnyc
Defining someone as underage means they have not reached the age of consent which is NOT the case in this instance
Tobi
Queerty have corrected the headline but haven’t updated the url, which still has ‘underage’ in it. Madness!!
RobtheElder
It’s too bad that those responsible for the law can’t just make them “hard and fast” rather than making exceptions for 17 year olds that make them legal in some cases, and illegal in others. I’m lucky in that I’ve never fancied youngsters. I’d love to know what sort of retribution society exacted from the clandestine transgressor in this case. It doesn’t appear that the law had an interest in the matter… RobtheElder
Coreydnyc
what’s even more terrible is that its 16 in some places…I wasn’t making the point because I condone his actions, I just don’t think the headline was appropriated if it’s in fact false
JamJewel
And nobody cares about the underage girls being married off without their consent to old men in fundamentalist cults in states where 15 is age of consent because women are considered chattel. . There’s a whole heap of double standards on here! Add an undercurrent of wanting to conflate ‘molester’ and ‘pedophile’ and brand everyone with one brush. Rubbish!
Tobi
@RobtheEdler “It’s too bad that those responsible for the law can’t just make them “hard and fast” rather than making exceptions for 17 year olds that make them legal in some cases, and illegal in others.
No. No. No.
There are numerous recent cases, especially in California, where young men 18-20 have been gaoled for statutory rape for having consensual sex with their 16-17-year-old girlfriends, because the parents have insisted on pressing charges.
I believe like most of Europe, an age of consent of 14-16 is perfectly acceptable. However, if that’s not the case then there need to be Romeo and Juilette exceptions.
JamJewel
Exactly… whenever you let age be the definition of adult/age-of-consent we’re screwed because, then, everyone can have their own own definition of age-of-consent. 99% of over/under [age of consent] teenage sex is ignored, and many adult men celebrate their son’s coming of age whether it’s 12 or 20 all the while ignoring that there is a female involved. And I’ve never understood the concept that a 13-year-old can’t give a 17-year-old consent, but can give and receive consent with a like minded 13-year-old! Gimme a break.
Tobi
It’s ridiculous, huh?
I think the age of consent is 14 across most of Western Europe, ie. Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, yet civilisation hasn’t collapsed because of that, has it?
There’s definitely a whiff of puritanism in the USA that still sees sex as being up there with cigarettes, drugs and alcohol, nasty, shameful and something that should only be only done on the quiet.
JarodD
So what I’m reading is that a man was fired for having consensual sex with someone above the age of consent?
JamJewel
In everyone’s eyes, he’s a pervert, so what difference did the law make? Proof that we make up our morality as we go along. One wonders if he would have been fired if it had been a girl, for instance! Right? I would love to know what Randy Hultgren thinks of the President and his sexual escapades and accusations, for arguments sake, and why this looked so bad to him/her even tho it was legal. Hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Ethanfuture
Ok first of all that teen is super hot. His little undies are also very sexy. I’d love to see more underwear pics of him. That politician was one lucky dude to get his hands on that hot twink.
chris33133
WHATEVER the age of consent may be, I think that the firing was because the aide embarrassed his homophobe boss by getting caught having sex with another man.
JamJewel
Here, here!
Kevan1
JamJewel
That’s because y’all can’t wrap your heads around the concept of consenting children. I have never felt abused or molested tho i started seducing men at nine [because, really and truly, what did another nine year old have to offer me: there was zero sexual appeal!] yet I suffered parental abuse and psychological damage in the name of discipline at the hands of my father.
JamJewel the physical abuse may have set you up for wanting the love of an older man. Confused with sexual and parental love. 9 years old with an older man is abuse and use. You may not see it that way, but at nine we are unable to understand long term consequences of these actions. You may think you used them, but with there age age experience they used you and threw you away as an object. You are not well informed being at 9 not as a person you wanted love and confused love with sex as any 9 year old wanting love and attention would from an abusive home life.
CastleSF
JamJewel, if at the age of nine you did what you said you did in your comment, you were indeed a sick child with a very twisted mind. I don’t think you could be held responsible for your behaviors back then, but I feel sorry for your parents.
miserylovedme24
The fact that you can be fired for having consensual sex with a legal person of age is absurd.
Bryguyf69
“When asked why he was shirtless, Provenzano said he had removed his shirt because he was hot.”
—-
Really? I don’t know his body looks but based on the face, I don’t think he looks all that hot. And unless the cop was gay, horny and corrupt, being semi-naked probably didn’t help… no matter how hot you look.
Bryguyf69
Speaking of hot … and twinks and corrupt gay officers (who is also hot), watch this. I’ve cued it up to the threeway sex for your viewing pleasure. Rewind too the beginning if your interest is not only purient. Heh
https://youtu.be/KzR0mDOI8ug?t=7m33s
Bryguyf69
For those who are more interested in the 17yo twink than the congressional aide… note the glasses on the towels in that photo. It’s a totally irrelevant observation but I just thought I’d point it out. 🙂
Aromaeus
I don’t really give a rats ass about age of consent. Some of you are so quick to defend this stuff it makes me wonder what you really like but would never speak out loud. The fact of the matter is children(yes 17 is a child) should be allowed to explore there sexuality with peers. That means children within their age group and not preyed upon by lecherous old men who have more intelligence, experience and grasp of the adult situation. Just because the age of consent is 17 doesn’t mean it’s right. It doesn’t mean these things don’t lack nuance and I’m sick of that being the end all be all for you creeps. I mean most studies claim that males haven’t fully matured until as late as 28 and lord knows teenagers are known for poor impulse control.
Nahald
The Repukelicans have ALWAYS been the party of “Do as I say , not as I do.” Hypocrisy runs deep in their souls.
2paddlecanoe
Guys: reflect on the facts that JamJewel related- women as chattel, married off at 15, and younger in many cultures. The young man is not a “child”. Do you say that about the young men of 18, who, a day beyond their birthday can sign up for the military, and we expect them to be ‘men’.? Those of us who are acceptably gay( read: comfortable, out, known) who look for sex on whatever site, may push away thoughts of playing with young men due to the inherent dangers; but those folks, like the stated aide, are more desperate and pursue convenient or easy opportunities as they arise. And isn’t it shallow to think that ‘the kid could have done better’? He may have thought that he caught the cat’s meow! CastleSF- you may not have experienced your libido rise at 9, but many guys( and girls), experience it wildly and by early teens their bodies and minds are aligned and obsessed with sex. Trying to explain it away as being a “twisted mind”, is your denial of someone else’s reality.