The Idaho House Ethics Committee this morning recommended that Republican Rep. Priscilla Giddings be censured for conduct unbecoming a member of the Idaho House.
The committee also recommended that she be removed from the House Commerce and Human Resources Committee. The unanimous vote followed a five-hour hearing Monday and 45-minute discussion this morning.
Both complaints that spurred the hearing allege that the White Bird Republican fell short of the standards expected of a representative when she posted information on her Facebook page identifying a 19-year-old House intern who accused former Lewiston Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger of rape. A total of 24 House members signed the two complaints, including 16 Republicans.
Giddings, who is running for lieutenant governor, said the complaints about her behavior amounted to little more than “woke cancel culture” and argued the ethics investigation was politically motivated. The committee recommended that one of the complaints, signed by Rep. Greg Chaney, be dismissed because its allegations were fully contained within the broader second complaint.
The full House still needs to vote on whether to accept or reject the committee’s recommendation. It’s unclear when the House will come back into session and take up the matter. (Lewiston Tribune)
