Arizona Ethics Committee Will Investigate Complaint Against Sen. Wendy Rogers
The Arizona Senate Ethics Committee voted unanimously to investigate accusations against freshman Sen. Wendy Rogers.
Less than two weeks after she was sworn into office, Rogers’ former legislative assistant filed an ethics complaint alleging she verbally abused him before he was forced out of the job.
In his complaint, Michael Polloni detailed derogatory comments Rogers allegedly made about his weight and appearance, his sister’s sexual orientation, his family’s political beliefs and his own religious beliefs.
It’s now up to Ethics Chair Sine Kerr, a Buckeye Republican, to determine the scope of the investigation and how it will be conducted.
A similar panel in the House has hired outside attorneys in previous years to investigate complaints against sitting representatives.
Rogers denied the allegations in a written response to the Ethics Committee, and claimed the allegations were a “complete fabrication.”
She also encouraged the committee to dismiss the complaint on procedural grounds — the complaint didn’t cite a specific state law or Senate rule she allegedly violated, Rogers wrote.
The ethics committee is scheduled to meet again on Feb. 11.
