By Ben Kerrigan-
Conservative MP William Wragg(pictured) has issued a public apology after admitting his involvement in a honeytrap sexting scandal targeting a minister and fellow Members of Parliament (MPs).
Wragg, who serves as the vice-chairman of the 1922 committee, confessed to leaking colleagues’ contact details to an individual he met on the gay dating app Grindr out of fear of potential blackmail.
The scandal unfolded when recipients, including MPs, their staff members, and a political journalist, received unsolicited flirtatious texts from senders identifying themselves as “Charlie” or “Abi.” Two MPs allegedly responded by sending explicit images of themselves, prompting an investigation by Leicestershire Police.
Wragg, openly gay himself, disclosed to The Times that he shared the contact details after feeling threatened by the individual who possessed compromising material on him. He expressed regret, stating, “I’ve hurt people by being weak. I was scared. I’m mortified. I’m so sorry that my weakness has caused other people hurt.”
The situation came to light after Politico initially reported on the scandal, which subsequently led to Leicestershire Police launching an investigation into the matter.
Late-night texts from an unknown sender, claiming to have met recipients years ago in a bar, were followed by the sending of explicit images and requests for reciprocation.
Despite many recipients blocking the sender, two MPs reportedly responded with explicit images of themselves.
The gravity of the situation is further underscored by the revelation that the sender, identified as “Charlie,” targeted individuals with explicit images and malicious intent.
One former MP, who fell victim to the scheme, expressed deep concern over the incident, highlighting the potential harm intended by the perpetrator.
Mr. Wragg’s involvement has not only raised eyebrows but has also brought the reputation of MPs into disrepute.
His admission of fear-driven actions leading to the compromise of colleagues’ privacy underscores the vulnerability of individuals in positions of power to exploitation and manipulation.
While Mr. Wragg’s apology acknowledges his culpability, the fallout from this scandal may have far-reaching consequences, both for him personally and for the broader trust in political institutions.