By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports
Boise Police confirmed Monday that they are investigating accusations of sexual assault made against Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, R-Lewiston.
As first reported by the Lewiston Tribune and later Boise State Public Radio, a GOP volunteer staff member claims von Ehlinger sexually assaulted her in March.
Von Ehlinger denies all claims and has hired former Idaho attorney general David Leroy to defend him.
When asked about the accusations on Friday, Boise Police said they did not have any open investigations on the case. On Monday, BPD spokesperson Haley Williams emailed Idaho Reports with an update.
“ …BPD does in fact have an open investigation into these allegations,” Williams wrote. “As it is an open investigation, no further information is available at this time. Detectives from BPD’s Special Victims Unit work closely with FACES of Hope on investigations of this nature and victims are provided with multiple resources and options.”
Faces of Hope Victim Center is a center in Boise that offers resources to sexual assault and domestic violence victims.
On Friday, Emily Lowe, the spokesperson for the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, told Idaho Reports “Our office has not received any reports regarding this matter.”
In the Monday floor session in the House of Representatives, von Ehlinger was present for voting and sponsored one bill.
The House Ethics Committee does have an investigation pending into von Ehlinger’s alleged behavior. The ethics committee will meet to vote on if or how von Ehlinger could be reprimanded, but a formal agenda and hearing date has not been posted yet.
