By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports
The Ethics and House Policy Committee reported Tuesday that they found probable cause to further review two complaints made about Rep. Priscilla Giddings’ conduct.
The allegations revolve around conduct unbecoming of a representative, as first reported by the Idaho Capital Sun.
Giddings, R-White Bird, was previously accused of identifying, or “doxxing,” the believed victim of former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger.
Von Ehlinger, of Lewiston, resigned after an ethics investigation, following accusations that he sexually assaulted an intern and harrassed other women in the Statehouse.
According to a copy of the House Journal from Tuesday, “The House Ethics Committee has received two complaints against Rep. Priscilla Giddings alleging conduct unbecoming a Representative which is detrimental to the integrity of the House as a legislative body. Under House Rule 45(4), the committee conducted a preliminary investigation and found probable cause exists that misconduct may have occurred regarding a portion of each complaint.”
Under House Rule 45(4), a finding of probable cause means the committee shall conduct a public hearing before which the member shall be entitled to appear, present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and be represented by counsel.
Ethics committee Chair Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay, reported that an ethics hearing will be held at 9 a.m. Aug. 2 in room EW 42 of the statehouse.
The House of Representatives is currently in recess, because they never formally reached Sine Die, and is subject to the call of Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley.
In May, Idaho Reports found that nearly 2,000 complaints from the public had been sent to Legislative Leadership, after she twice published a link to a blog that named the victim of an alleged sexual assault.
For the Ethics and House Policy Committee to investigate, the complaint must have come from an elected member of the Legislature. The first complaint came from Rep. Greg Chaney, while the second was signed by 24 members of the House of Representatives, including House Speaker Scott Bedke. Both Giddings and Bedke are running for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor’s seat.
Read copies of the complaints below.
Idaho Reports called Rep. Giddings around 1:40 p.m. Tuesday and left a message, but did not receive an immediate response.
