On Wednesday April 12th the AZ House of Representatives voted to expel Rep. Liz Harris-R.
Harris had organized the joint elections committees hearing where she allowed conspiracy theory presenters to offer five hours of baseless claims. The House Ethics committee met after a complaint was filed and found Harris had "damaged the institutional integrity of the House". The Committee, chaired by Joseph Chaplik LD3, did not assign a punishment but left it to the entire House of Representative to decide a consequence for her actions. It was decided Harris was well aware the presentation would include accusations aimed at lawmakers and others of money laundering, drug trafficking, election fraud, bribery and public corruption.
The House vote needed a 2/3 consensus and the motion to expel resulted in 46 for expulsion with 13 against. (1 absent) Both LD3 representatives Chaplik and Kolodin voted NOT to expel.
Former Rep. Harris was serving her first term at the legislature. Her campaign platform included the belief the election was stolen in 2020 and has worked to undermine faith in state elections.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will now appoint a republican to finish out her term, as statute dictates.
It should be no surprise to anyone who closely follows the legislature to learn that the House will hear some safe bills on April 13th then adjourn until Tuesday April 25th. The hope is to have the new representative from district 13 sworn in at that time. The majority party needs that one vote to pass any partisan bill.
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