Since the rise of the #MeToo movement in 2017, many state lawmakers either resigned, been expelled or have resigned from their position. Take a look at who these people are.
#MeToo: State Lawmakers Who’ve Left Office Because Of Sexual Misconduct was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
1. Dean Westlake
The former representative of Alaska resigned from his position via a letter on December 15, 2018, after being accused of inappropriate behavior with several women.
(Photo Credit: YouTube)
2. Don Shooter
Don Shooter was the representative from Arizona who got expelled from office on February 1, 2018, by a House vote. An investigation revealed that Shooter had a pattern of sexual harassment toward women including one lawmaker.
(AP)
3. Matt Dababneh
Former California Assemblyman Matt Dababneh resigned January 1, 2018, after a lobbyist said she was pushed into a bathroom by him in Las Vegas. There he engaged in vulgar behavior in front of her.
(Photo Credit: YouTube)
4. Raul Bocanegra
Raul Bocanegra a former Assemblyman of California resigned in November 2017 after allegations of him kissing and grouping multiple women came out.
(AP)
5. Tony Mendoza
Former senator Tony Mendoza resigned on February 22, 2018, after an investigation revealed that he likely engaged in unwanted flirtatious and sexually suggestive behavior with 6 women.
(AP)
6. Steve Lebsock
Steve Lebsock was expelled from his position as representative of Colorado on March 2, 2018, by a House vote after an investigation revealed he harassed five women, including a lawmaker. He changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican on the day he was expelled.
(Photo Credit: YouTube)
7. Angel Arce
Former Connecticut representative Angel Arce resigned from his position on April 2, 2018, after the Hartford Courant broke a story about him sending affectionate text messages to a 16-year-old girl.
(Photo Credit: YouTube)
8. Jack Latvala
Former Florida Senator Jack Latvala resigned January 5, 2018, due to allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women.
(Photo Credit: YouTube)
9. Bill Dix
Former Iowa Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix resigned on March 12, 2018, after a website posted a video of the married lawmaker kissing a lobbyist at a bar. Though the Senate’s ethics code doesn’t state anything about having relationships between lawmakers and lobbyist it does say that lawmakers should avoid “unethical conduct.”
(AP)
10. Joseph Souki
On March 21, 2018, Joseph Souki agreed to resign from his position as Hawaii’s Representative in cooperation with the State Ethics Commission settlement. He was accused of sexually harassing multiple women by forcing himself on them, kissing them and using sexual language. The settlement also asked that he pay $5,000 to the state, make a public apology, and not seek office for two years.
(AP)