Backlash grows vs. Shooter
Amid more accusations, legislator is suspended as committee chairman
Arizona state Rep. Don Shooter was suspended Friday as chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee following multiple accusations that he sexually harassed women.
In further reaction to the escalating controversy, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry — one of the state’s most influential business organizations — called on Shooter to resign immediately.
The developments came after Mi-Ai Parrish, president and publisher of The
Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, wrote in a column that Shooter made a
sexually inappropriate comment to her during a March 2016 meeting in his Capitol office.
Several hours after that column was published online, House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, announced he had “hit pause” on Shooter’s chairmanship as the Arizona House of Representatives investigates multiple accusations that Shooter acted inappropriately.
“I have suspended Mr. Shooter’s responsibilities as the appropriations chairman, pending the results of the investigation,” Mesnard said in an interview with The
Republic. “We have very serious accusations. They will be taken seriously by the investigative team.”
As chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Shooter, R-Yuma, had significant influence over budget requests. Mesnard said Shooter cannot hold any meetings about the budget or funding requests while the investigations are ongoing.
Shooter’s role as appropriations chairman is a factor in at least one allegation.
Marilyn Rodriguez, a Democratic lobbyist, said he put his hand on her knee in an overtly sexual manner during a 2013 meeting where she asked for his support on a budget issue.
Rodriguez is one of six women who have publicly accused Shooter of making sexually charged comments, touching them inappropriately or making unwanted sexual advances.
The controversy prompted a litany of responses from political and business leaders on Friday, including the state chamber’s call for Shooter’s immediate departure.
“(The accusations) do not align at all with the expectations of an elected official, and they are disqualifying,” said Garrick Taylor, spokesman for the chamber. “These allegations absolutely need to be investigated, and our elected officials should be held to the highest standards.”
In Parrish’s column, she wrote that she and an attorney were lobbying Shooter on a bill affecting the media when the then-senator mentioned that he’s done everything on his “bucket list,” except one thing.
When she asked Shooter what he hadn’t done, she wrote that he responded: “Those Asian twins in Mexico.” Parrish is Korean-American. It was her first meeting with the lawmaker.
“Don Shooter made a demeaning, sexual and racial comment to me in his office, in front of my attorney,” Parrish wrote. “That’s not right. And that’s the truth.”
Shooter’s list of public accusers includes six women: Parrish, three state lawmakers, a Democratic lobbyist and an intern for the Arizona Capitol Times.
When reached by The Republic on Friday morning, Shooter declined to comment due to the ongoing investigations. He previously said one of his accusers, Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, was lying about him.
“No, I can’t make any public comments,” he said. “I’m waiting for the investigation to unfold. I trust that the truth will come out.” Accusations against Shooter grow
Parrish is the first woman outside of the Capitol community to publicly make such a statement. Last month, Parrish was awarded the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Athena Award for private-sector Businesswoman of the Year.
Ugenti-Rita first accused Shooter of harassment in a Twitter post Tuesday. She detailed her allegations during a television interview later that day, alleging Shooter made comments about her breasts and relentlessly sought a romantic relationship.
After Ugenti-Rita came forward, the number of accusers of Shooter grew. State Rep. Wenona Benally, DWindow Rock, described an instance where, she said, “Shooter repeatedly referred to his male genitalia as a ‘gun’ ” while telling a joke.
Shooter has, so far, declined to comment on the bulk of his accusers’ statements.
“I requested an investigation by the House which is now underway,” Shooter said in a public statement that his attorney released Wednesday. “Therefore I am unable to comment further except to provide my full support and cooperation.”
Shooter did, however, respond to Ugenti-Rita’s allegations. After initially apologizing for “insensitive” comments, he recanted his apology and accused Ugenti-Rita of lying.
On Tuesday evening, he requested that the House investigate the matter. Shooter also accused Ugenti-Rita of having an inappropriate relationship with a legislative staff member and making a comment about masturbation to a male colleague in a public hearing, which was recorded on video. Parrish details incident
Parrish wrote in her column that Ugenti-Rita’s comments had brought to mind other instances in which men made inappropriate sexual comments to her during her career.
“If a state senator feels comfortable enough to say to an Asian woman publisher in front of her attorney that his bucket list includes Asian twins, what does he say to the other women in his life?” Parrish wrote.
“I’ve tried to help the women around me. But it hasn’t changed things. So I’m saying this: Enough.”
David Bodney, an attorney for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, said he was present during the meeting with Shooter and confirmed Parrish’s account. Bodney said the comment was “unprovoked and deeply inappropriate.”
“We were stunned,” he said. “My only regret today is that I didn’t call him out on the spot for what, I can only surmise, he thought was a humorous aside.”
Bodney said he and Parrish had been asking Shooter to oppose a bill that would have removed requirements for government entities to publish public notices in the newspaper.
After Shooter’s remark, Bodney said, it became “abundantly clear that it was time to leave” the lawmaker’s office.
Accusations of sexual harassment against Shooter come as women and men across the country, from statehouses to Hollywood, have joined a national movement to call attention to sexual harassment and assault by often-powerful individuals.
Often referred to as the #metoo and #believeher campaigns, the movement was sparked by numerous accusations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein.
“These courageous women were inspiration to me, and I felt I needed to be inspirational to others,” Parrish said during an interview with The Republic. “Others will come forward, because this is something that happens every single day.”
Parrish said she initially brushed off the encounter with Shooter, telling Bodney that it was OK and that she wasn’t surprised.
However, she said, she now feels compelled to speak out because the comment wasn’t acceptable for her, or for her nieces, her colleagues and all the other women who will come after her.
“For decades, I let stuff like this fly,” Parrish wrote. “I hope it’s a tipping point. It feels like one.” Calls for Shooter’s resignation
Several Democrats and the Arizona Democratic Party have called for Shooter to resign. His Republican opponent in next year’s primary election for Legislative District 13, Army veteran Trey Terry, said on Friday he should resign.
Many lobbyists and lawmakers have said accusations against Shooter are not an isolated incident and speak to a broader cultural problem at the state Capitol. Some have said the Legislature has an ingrained culture of sexism.
“Allegations that are coming out about sexual harassment at the Capitol are appalling, but sadly, not surprising,” Senate Minority Leader Katie Hobbs, D-Phoenix, posted on Twitter. “Rep. Shooter should resign.”
Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, released a brief statement through a spokesman, saying he supports Mesnard’s decision to suspend Shooter as chairman while the investigations are underway.
“As the governor has said, there can be no tolerance for sexual harassment,” Ducey’s spokesman, Daniel Scarpinato, wrote in a statement.
Under the House’s harassment policy, someone who commits unlawful harassment could face penalties ranging from a written reprimand to expulsion. The Legislature has the power to remove a colleague from office with a two-thirds vote, but such instances are rare.
Mesnard, meanwhile, declined to speculate on Shooter’s future.
“Everyone deserves due process,” Mesnard said during a crowded press conference Friday afternoon. “I’m going to be as neutral and impartial as I can possibly be.”