House lawmakers will hold another ethics hearing soon over the allegations against Democratic lawmaker Leezah Sun. It is unknown when that will occur at this time.
The second hearing was originally scheduled to take place on Thursday, but was postponed due to one witness contracting an “unforeseen illness.” Anticipated testimony included an alleged death threat to a city of Tolleson official.
Democrats’ leaders in the House filed the ethics complaint against Sun early last November regarding the threats. The employees testified the next month that Sun’s behavior made them believe that she would assault them during a discussion about the repeal of certain transportation infrastructure funding. Alicia Guzman, Tolleson government affairs support specialist, described Sun as “unstable” and unpredictable.
In another incident, Sun allegedly stated that she desired to harm and murder a certain lobbyist, Pilar Sinawi, by slapping her and throwing her off a balcony. Sun also allegedly sent requests to follow family members of the officials online. These events caused the officials to fear for her safety, as they testified before the committee last month.
The complaint also alleged that Sun used her lawmaker status to intervene in a friend’s child custody dispute by preventing the court-ordered transfer of four children.
Happy New Year LD22 🥂🎆
It’s been a year of growth and learning, but what I loved most this year was connecting with all the people I serve and being their fierce advocate at the state capital 💛.
Your Advocate,
Rep.Leezah Sun pic.twitter.com/pqbj2c8ZRm— Rep. Leezah Sun LD22 (@Sun4AZ) December 31, 2023
In the initial hearing in December social worker Kristyn Alcott testified that Sun attempted to intimidate her to prevent the children’s transfer. An audio recording of the incident played in the hearing supported Alcott’s testimony. Alcott described Sun’s behavior as “inappropriate” and “concerning,” as well as not fitting for an elected statewide official.
“It was perceived as a threat. It was perceived as undermining my process, undermining the court’s authority, and to attempt to control how I moved that process forward,” said Alcott.
On Tuesday, Sun issued public comment during the Littleton Elementary School District (LESD) board meeting to give negative testimony against their longtime Superintendent, Roger Freeman, who testified against her in an initial hearing last month and whose contract the school board was reviewing that day.
Freeman accused Sun of threatening to file a complaint against his school district with the attorney general in order to jeopardize their funding. According to Freeman, Sun was upset about a letter published by LESD President Kathy Reyes and refused to work with Freeman on remedying the issue.
Reyes’ letter addressed a community dispute over then-high school student Markus Ceniceros who, as part of his campaign for a governing board seat, was featured in a profile piece criticizing LESD at length. Reyes dismissed the criticisms as an “uneducated view” of the district short on facts: a take that upset Sun.
Ceniceros was Sun’s deputy campaign manager that year. Police caught up with Ceniceros earlier that summer for stealing campaign signs from Sun’s opponent.
In her remarks to Freeman’s district on Tuesday, Sun said Freeman’s testimony amounted to him “air[ing] dirty laundry.”
Sun has denied all major accusations against her, with some concessions to strong language used in the incidents discussed.