House Speaker Shekarchi responds to State Rep. Sanchez DUI arrest

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — State Rep. Enrique Sanchez was not at the State House for Tuesday’s session of the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

This comes one day after Sanchez, a Providence Democrat, was arrested for drunk driving on Reservoir Avenue in Cranston.

House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi called the arrest a ‘serious charge’ but said he wasn’t surprised that Sanchez did not show up for work Tuesday.

Speaker Shekarchi said Sanchez could have had a medical appointment or maybe didn’t have a ride to the State House, adding that five or six other representatives were also not in session Tuesday.

The two have not spoken since Sanchez was arrested.

When ABC6 News asked Shekarchi if he thought Sanchez should resign, he said it’s up to the constituents.

“That’s up to… clearly up to any individual to make that decision,” Shekarchi said. “I let the process play out, everybody is entitled to the presumption of innocence.”

Shekarchi said at the appropriate time, Sanchez owes an explanation to his colleagues and those he represents.

ABC6 News has repeatedly reached out to Sanchez for comment and has not heard back.