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April 29, 2021 1:12 PM Associated Press
Updated:
Darin Oswald
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.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) An Idaho lawmaker accused of rape by a 19-year-old legislative intern has resigned after an ethics committee found he should be formally censured.
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. He resigned Thurs
Jane Doe s lawyer says Idaho Statehouse ethics hearing traumatic for client, wasn t well planned
Jane Doe s attorney, Annie Hightower, said, I think this process has been the most harmful process I have ever been involved within my 13 years. Author: Brian Holmes Updated: 3:53 PM MDT April 30, 2021
BOISE, Idaho On Wednesday, the 19-year-old Statehouse staffer, who alleged Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger raped her, was forced to come forward in a public House ethics hearing.
Her attorney, Annie Hightower, told The 208 on Thursday that the whole process wasn t well developed and feels again like a complete loss of control of her body and her autonomy and that is that s been very difficult.
Ethics Panel: Idaho Lawmaker Accused of Rape Should be Censured
BOISE, Idaho (AP) An Idaho lawmaker who was accused of rape by a 19-year-old intern should be formally censured and suspended from office, a legislative ethics committee found on Thursday.
The full House could vote on the matter as soon as Friday. If a majority agrees, Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger will be required to vacate his office and stay off the Statehouse grounds immediately, and a new lawmaker would be appointed to fill in for the Republican from Lewiston.
The panel also recommend that von Ehlinger be held in contempt for refusing to answer some questions during his testimony on Wednesday. The lawmaker invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself on the advice of his attorney, but Idaho law states that testimony given in a legislative ethics panel can’t be used in criminal court cases. That means the Fifth Amendment doesn’t apply, the committee said.