Rubypoint:Lawmaker resigns shortly before Arizona House was to vote on expelling her

2025-04-28 17:54:28source:Indexbit Exchangecategory:News

PHOENIX (AP) — Democratic Rep. Leezah Sun resigned her Arizona House seat on RubypointWednesday shortly before the chamber was expected to vote on whether to expel her from office after a legislative ethics committee concluded she had engaged in a pattern of disorderly behavior.

Sun was accused of making a profane threat at an August conference to slap and kill a lobbyist for the city of Tolleson, interfering in a child custody matter even though she wasn’t a party in the legal case, and threatening a school superintendent in December 2022 with a legislative investigation. Four of Sun’s fellow Democrats filed an ethics complaint against her last year.

The House Ethics Committee released a report Tuesday concluding Sun, who was elected in 2022 to represent a district in western metro Phoenix, had violated a rule of the chamber that bars members from engaging in disorderly behavior.

Sun didn’t respond to requests for comment made in a phone call, email and private message sent to her over social media.

READ MORE Bill to ban guns at polling places in New Mexico advances with concerns about intimidationJordan Pope hits 3-pointer at buzzer, Oregon State beats No. 9 Arizona 83-80Arizona regents approve 5-year contract for new Arizona football coach Brent Brennan

In a letter to the ethics committee in November, Garrick McFadden, a lawyer representing Sun, denied the allegation that the lawmaker wanted to throw the Tolleson lobbyist off a balcony and said the lobbyist wasn’t at the conference where Sun was alleged to have made the comment.

McFadden had said the threat to slap the lobbyist wasn’t credible and suggested it was an attempt at levity. McFadden also acknowledged Sun may have acted inappropriately by interfering in a child custody matter.

In a statement, Democratic leaders in the House said Sun had damaged the chamber’s reputation.

“This is a solemn day, but Representative Sun did what’s best for our state and for the integrity of this body,” the Democratic leaders said.

Sun’s replacement will be appointed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which under state law must pick a candidate who belongs to the same political party as the departing lawmaker.

More:News

Recommend

NCAA President Charlie Baker would be 'shocked' if women's tournament revenue units isn't passed

NCAA President Charlie Baker and a member of the Division I Board of Directors said Wednesday they f

John Cena appears for Savannah Bananas baseball team with electric entrance

The Champ is − at the plate?The Savannah Bananas, the exuberant exhibition baseball team known for p

Christopher Nolan, Celine Song, AP’s Mstyslav Chernov win at Directors Guild Awards

Christopher Nolan was awarded the top prize at the Directors Guild Awards for “Oppenheimer” Saturday