Investigation: Arizona lawmaker broke sex harassment rules
PHOENIX — An Arizona House lawmaker violated the chamber’s sexual harassment policies and has been permanently removed from all committee assignments, the House speaker announced Tuesday.
The move involving Republican Rep. Don Shooter of Yuma came months after a female lawmaker said he harassed her and many other women then complained about his actions.
House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, also a Republican, said he would seek to have Shooter formally censured by the full House. In addition, he wants to launch a formal House human resources department and ban drinking on House property.
A formal censure is the most severe punishment a House member can face short of expulsion, Mesnard said. He called it a “proportionate response” to Shooter’s actions, which he said involved “crude jokes and disgusting comments to people” but not sexual assault.