Syms, Cobb, Nutt, Norgaard Call For Rios, Ugenti-Rita To Be Removed From Leadership Positions

Controversy continues to haunt the Arizona House of Representatives as a result of allegations made by Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita about sexual harassment by Rep. Don Shooter. Missteps by House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, and a bevy of apologists lining up to defend Ugenti-Rita has outraged lawmakers as well as the public.

On Friday, Republican representatives Maria Syms, Regina Cobb, Becky Nutt, and Jill Norgaard surprised fellow lawmakers when they sent a letter to Mesnard demanding that Ugenti-Rita, be stripped of her chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee.

The four lawmakers also demanded that the Democratic Caucus “take immediate action” to remove Rios as the House Minority Leader.

In Ugenti-Rita’s case, Shooter complained about a relationship Ugenti-Rita had with a House staff member a number of years ago while she was married. Ugenti-Rita allegedly sexually harassed a female staffer to join her and the man with whom she was having an affair in a threesome.

Since that time, voters have re-elected Ugenti-Rita, she has divorced, and she and the former staff member are now engaged.

The case of Rios, she was in a position of power when she had an extra-marital relationship with a member of the House security staff. However, unlike Ugenti-Rita, it appears that Rios may have used her position to cause the man to lose his job. Rep. Ray Martinez, a political foe of Rios, filed an ethics complaint against her regarding what he described as an “inappropriate relationship,” with a House staffer.

The letter reads:

Dear Speaker Mesnard:

The recent sexual harassment allegations made by and against members of the House of Representatives are disturbing and warrant a comprehensive investigation of all material information and witnesses. Sexual harassment and misconduct is unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any workplace and most especially, in the Arizona House of Representatives where elected officials serve the public trust.

We are aware of multiple sexual misconduct allegations pending against Representatives Shooter, Ugenti-Rita and Rios. Representative Shooter, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, has been accused of sexual harassment of a fellow Representative as well as others. Appropriately, an investigation has commenced regarding these allegations. Representative Shooter has been removed from his position as Chairman until the investigation is completed and further action, if needed, has been determined by the House.

Representative Ugenti-Rita, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has a sexual misconduct complaint against her based on her alleged affair with a staff employee of the House as well as inappropriate sexual comments made and recorded during a public hearing. Representative Ugenti-Rita has not been removed as Chairman pending the investigation. In order to maintain equal treatment, consistency, and the integrity of House policy, Representative Ugenti-Rita should be removed from her position as Chairman until the investigation has been completed and further action, if needed, is determined by the legislature. We are requesting House leadership to take immediate action to do so.

Representative Rios, House Minority Leader, has a sexual misconduct complaint against her based on her alleged affair with a staff employee of the House who resigned his position. Representative Rios continues to serve as Minority Leader. Again, in order to maintain equal treatment, consistency, and the integrity of House policy, Representative Rios should be removed from her position of Minority Leader until the investigation has been completed and further action, if needed, has been determined by the legislature. We are requesting House Democratic Caucus leadership to take immediate action to do so.

It is disappointing that these allegations have come to light regarding our House colleagues and that taxpayer dollars and valuable resources are being expended to investigate the allegations against Representatives Shooter, Ugenti-Rita and Rios. We believe that the process and policy for addressing these allegations and any resulting accountability should be equal and consistent with respect to all of these individuals. Should the current allegations of sexual misconduct be verified as to any of the individuals, we request leadership to move to exercise appropriate authorized discipline against such individuals, up to and including expulsion proceedings.

House Representatives serve the public and should not abuse their position by exerting power and influence over others, especially through sexual misconduct. Sexual harassment, sexual assault and sexual relations with House staff should not be tolerated under any circumstance.

Rep. Kelly Townsend immediately rushed to Ugenti-Rita’s defense in a tweet:

Townsend and other House members were outraged this week when Mesnard announced his unilateral decision to use House funds to cover the legal costs incurred by Shooter, Rios, Martinez, and Ugenti-Rita.