BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Dickinson Representative Luke Simons was expelled from the state House of Representatives over allegations of sexual harassment by legislative staff, interns and House colleagues. Simons denied the allegations. The vote to expel Simons was 69 to 25.
Representative Dwight Kiefert of Valley City said he voted to expel Simons saying, “the past…complaints and failure of him to correct his inappropriate behavior is why I voted to expel him. Instead of apologizing for his actions over the past four years he asked “What am I guilty of? His comment, Let’s have some fun with it”, regarding an investigation was very troubling. I think this sounds like someone who needs a psychiatric evaluation.”
After spending the last half of the week doing damage control over comments by Dickinson Representative Luke Simons, leaders of the North Dakota GOP are now calling for Simons resignation. House Majority Leader Carrington Representative Chet Pollert says initially, the issues with Representative Simons began when he used expletives toward another lawmaker who asked him to put on a mask while in the capitol lunchroom… .Because after that, there was an open records request and more stuff came out. When we hit crossover, which was Wednesday, it had started then. And Thursday and Friday, I haven t had a lot of free time, if you want to know the truth.