FILE – In this June 5, 2017, file photo, Arizona state Democratic Rep. Reginald Bolding speaks at a news conference at the NAACP in Phoenix. Bolding asked the state House of Representatives on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, to expel Republican Rep. David Stringer after a newspaper reported that he was charged with sex offenses in 1983 in a case that was later expunged. (AP Photo/Angie Wang, File)
PHOENIX (AP) – A Democratic Arizona lawmaker asked the state House of Representatives Monday to expel Republican Rep. David Stringer after a newspaper reported that he was charged with sex offenses in 1983 in a case that was later expunged.
Republicans voted to pause the House session before lawmakers could vote on the expulsion request by Democratic Rep. Reginald Bolding.
“Allegations of a sexual nature that were not disclosed to this body, to our voters, that is not transparency,” Bolding said. “That is unbecoming of a member of this institution.”
Stringer, of Prescott, came under fire twice last year for his comments about race and immigration. He has not responded to phone calls and emails from The Associated Press over several days.
In pushing to avoid an expulsion vote, Republican Rep. Warren Petersen said lawmakers shouldn’t rush to expel a colleague before learning his side of the story, noting a complaint had been filed with the House Ethics Committee.