Ex-Congress Aide Found Dead in Burning Car

A long-time Congressional aide was found dead in her garage after a low-speed car crash that appeared to have started a fire, Politico reports. Police think Ashley Turton, who had recently worked as a lobbyist, crashed through her garage door, starting a fire that consumed car, garage and driver. “There were some unusual circumstances—just the way the car was, low-speed, significant fire," said a DC fire department rep, who said that the crash is under joint investigation with the police.

"Ashley Turton was simply one of the best people I've worked with in my couple of decades in DC,” said a fellow lobbyist. “She was smart, caring, funny, easy to get along with, talented, and very well respected on both sides of the aisle. This is a tragic loss." Turton's husband, Dan, works as the White House's deputy director of legislative affairs for the House. Turton herself had worked for a decade as an aide to Dick Gephardt during his time in the House.
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