Ethics panel: Lawmaker accused of rape should be censured

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By REBECCA BOONE

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A legislative ethics committee on Thursday found that an Idaho lawmaker who was accused of rape by a 19-year-old intern should be formally censured and suspended from office.

The full House could vote on the matter as soon as Friday, and if a majority agrees, Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger will be required to vacate his office and stay off the Statehouse grounds immediately. In that case, a new lawmaker would be appointed to fill in for the Republican from Lewiston.

The investigation into Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger began in March after a young staffer reported he raped her in his apartment after the two had dinner at a Boise restaurant. Von Ehlinger has denied all wrongdoing and maintains he had consensual sexual contact with the young woman. The Boise Police Department is investigating the case, and von Ehlinger has not been charged.

The five-member ethics panel also agreed that they would throw unanimous support behind a motion to expel von Ehlinger if any House lawmaker decides to make one.



State Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, R-Lewiston, listens as an alleged victim, identified as Jane Doe, offers testimony during a hearing before the Idaho Ethics and House Policy Committee, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in the Lincoln Auditorium at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise, Idaho. Von Ehlinger was before the committee to face sexual misconduct allegations with a 19-year-old volunteer staff member during the current legislative session. (Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/idaho-government-and-politics-52fcc76661c09b6e9e960fcb6195c5ff

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Why isn't he in jail, out on bail, or being charged w/ a crime, etc.? This is disgusting when these

thugs think by virtue of their Senate and/or House 'tag', that they get away with literally murder, etc. It's time to treat these thugs exactly for what they are, thugs. Like like djt, a thug of the worse kind.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

3. Because it's he said/she said, unless there are witnesses ...

Same legal issue that most rape cases (unfortunately) have.

There's no charges (yet) by the local PD, ergo, he's not been arrested.

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. Why is rape the only crime

where "he said/she said" prevents prosecution?

If the woman accused the man of robbing her, would they claim they couldn't prosecute because it was a case of "he said/she said"? I think not.

[NYC Liberal]

5. Yes they would. If you walk into a police station and claim someone

robbed you with no hard evidence, they aren’t going to run over to the person’s house and cuff them on your word.

[Miguelito Loveless]

11. You have injuries,

and say you recognize your attacker. They go talk to your attacker and he says, "Well, yes, I have his wallet and a large amount of cash, but he gave it to me, I didn't rob him." The police then tell you, well, he said you gave him the money, so we have no case.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

6. Actually it's hard to convict someone for robbery simply based on someone saying it happened

as well. Typically you have to have some sort of physical evidence as well. Like they catch the robber with the laptop or purse or whatever.

Where the he said/she said comes in with rape is when the question of 'consent' arises.

With nobody else there, proving 'beyond a reasonable doubt' that someone did not consent ... can be legally tricky. Esp. if you do not quickly report it to the cops and get a rape kit done. Getting some skin of the other person under you nails if you're being raped is pretty smart. Don't know whether that happened here or not.

On the one hand this reality is quite upsetting, but on the other ... it's really not different from how other crimes are treated.

[Miguelito Loveless]

10. Fair enough

But when you are robbed and call the police, do they come in and start asking you all sorts of questions about how you spend your money, and why you were in a certain location, dressed in expensive clothes, with an expensive watch? Seems to us, they suggest, like you were teasing robbers, just asking for it.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I posted an article from the Idaho Capital Sun this morning in this thread:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10481214

The poor staffer was treated terribly during and after the hearing. While she gave testimony shielded behind black curtains, the committee made no effort to protect her identity after the meeting adjourned.

The representative had a few other incidents that also fit under the category of sexual harassment.

[riversedge]

13. Horrible the way she

was treated.

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. Consensual with that greasy toad?

He's a legend in his own mind.

[marble falls]

8. Yikes. I'd never trust or believe anything that guy ever said, just by his looks.

[Mazeltov Cocktail]

9. You had to read fairly far into the article to determine he was a republican...

I figured he was when the headline didn't lead with " Democrat" or "liberal Democrat...also it's in Idaho...so a lesser chance of being a Democrat.

[Martin68]

12. "Censured?" Why is he free to roam at will?