‘A miracle’
Ex-Rep. Shooter survives crucial surgeries, family friend says
PHOENIX — Former state lawmaker Don Shooter survived a pair of crucial surgeries Wednesday and Thursday as doctors sought to save his life, according to lobbyist and family friend Gretchen Jacobs.
Jacobs told Capitol Media Services that Shooter, who was ejected by the House last year, is at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, and he was brought to the facility after blood flow to a part of his intestines was cut off. She said Shooter, who was on life support, also had a blood clot.
But Jacobs said Thursday that Shooter, a Republican who represented the Yuma area and parts of western Maricopa County, appears to have rounded a curve.
“The fact that he made it through surgery and all that
yesterday (Wednesday) is a miracle,’’ she said, saying he was on life support. “The odds were against him.’’
Thursday’s surgery, she said, was risky, “but not as risky as yesterday.’’
“Once he makes it through this surgery he should be able to make it,’’ Jacobs said.
Shooter was voted out of the House on Jan. 31, 2018, after colleagues concluded that he was guilty of repeated actions of sexual harassment against lawmakers, lobbyists and others.
The 56-3 vote occurred despite a last-minute plea by the Yuma Republican to instead punish him with a censure. In fact, until that morning even J.D. Mesnard who was House speaker said the lesser penalty was appropriate, given that the investigative report which found credible evidence of harassment included much had occurred before 2017, when Shooter was in the state Senate.
But Mesnard changed his mind and pushed for explusion after Shooter sent a letter to his colleagues asking that they delay the vote action while they consider whether there also are credible charges against Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita. The Scottsdale Republican was the first to level harassment charges against Shooter.
An investigative report
found “credible evidence’’ Shooter violated anti-harassment policies several times with Ugenti-Rita, including making sexual comments and suggestions and making “unwelcome sexualized comments’’ about her breasts.