BOISE, Idaho — A legislative ethics committee says an Idaho lawmaker who publicized the name of an intern who reported a rape should be stripped of one of her committee assignments for acting in an a manner “unbecoming” to the state's House of Representatives.
The Whitebird representative faced the House Ethics Committee hearing which started Monday at 9 a.m. after two ethics complaints were filed by two dozen of her fellow lawmakers following her decisions to share a news article that publicly identified an alleged sexual assault victim.
On Tuesday morning the House Ethics Committee discussed for nearly an hour to vote on Giddings actions and if she was unbecoming of a lawmaker.
#BREAKING: Motion passes unanimously. Here is the committee decision. #idpol #idleg pic.twitter.com/wXfGK2BpVJ
— Nicole Camarda (@CamardaNicole) August 3, 2021
Committee member Rep. Wendy Horman recommended dismissing one of the complaints made by Rep. Greg Chaney due to its criminality aspect. Horman went on to condemn Giddings's actions during Monday's hearing.
“This pattern of lack of respect for the dignity of other human beings are standards many of us would say are below any citizen including a member of the house of representatives,” Horman said.
Since the house did not Sine Die, this recommendation must be voted on by the end of the year or it expires by December 31st
Normally - it would carry over into the next legislative session - but because the house did not adjourn - they are still technically in session and can come back to vote.
The full House will now be asked to vote on the recommendation made Tuesday, but they will have to reconvene for the vote. Republican Rep. Priscilla Giddings became the subject of two ethics complaints by about two dozen lawmakers after she shared links to a far-right blog that included the name, photo and personal details about the young intern.
It's unclear when the full House will reconvene.
