Originally published April 13, 2023 2:30 am PDT
On Wednesday, Arizona State Representative Liz Harris was expelled from the Arizona legislature after a House Ethics Committee investigation found her to be in violation of ethics rules.
Harris, a Republican lawmaker from Phoenix who has been critical of the results of the 2020 presidential election, was ousted by a 46-13 vote, which surpassed the necessary two-thirds majority in the Republican-controlled assembly to remove her from office.
The ethics investigation was initiated immediately following a joint legislative hearing on the 2020 and 2022 elections held on Feb 23, which involved the Senate Elections Committee and the Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee.
Harris, who was a member of the latter, had invited insurance agent Jacqueline Breger to testify at the hearing.
The House Ethics Committee report concluded that Harris had “committed disorderly behavior” and harmed “the institutional integrity of the House” by arranging Breger’s testimony.
Breger had allegedly lied during her testimony in an attempt to implicate Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs and other officials in accepting “bribes and infiltration” by Mexican drug cartels, which she claimed likely affected the outcome of the last two state elections.
Breger also reportedly accused the Mormon Church of controlling government policy and engaging in money laundering activities.
During the investigation, Harris and Breger sent text messages to each other.
Harris acknowledged during her testimony last month that she was surprised that Breger had not followed her instructions “not to impugn any legislator” or refer to “any religious institution.”
The ethics panel determined that Harris’ actions violated House Rules and eroded public trust in the legislative process.
After the vote, Harris told reporters outside the Capitol, “I stand for honesty and integrity,” and claimed, “The report is a lie.”
“If you don’t toe the line, this is what happens,” she said.
