Projo Politics Blog

PROVIDENCE -- U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee answered a barrage of questions this afternoon about his decision to suspend a staff member for sending campaign-type e-mails from a Senate computer, a violation of Senate rules.

"She is the most junior member of our office and made a mistake that she has been disciplined for," Chafee said at an unrelated press conference today.

The 25-year-old staffer, Lammis Vargas, admitted yesterday to sending several anonymous e-mails to members of the media criticizing Chafee's challenger, Sheldon Whitehouse. Vargas has been suspended without pay pending further investigation.

Chafee was asked why she wasn't fired.

"I need some time to take a look before you fire someone," he said, adding that "she's very apologetic."

Chafee also noted that Vargas has a child and a husband in the armed services who is being re-deployed to Iraq.

"I believe it's very, very isolated and not a big deal," Chafee said.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

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