Legislator expelled over misconduct

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota House on Thursday voted to expel a lawmaker accused of threatening and sexually harassing women at the Capitol, the first time in state history for such an expulsion.

Members voted 6925 to expel Rep. Luke Simons, a Republican from Dickinson, for a pattern of behavior they said stretched back to soon after he took office in 2017. The expulsion came with strong support from Simons’ own party, which holds a supermajority in the chamber.

Majority Leader Chet Pollert said Simons had been given “multiple chances to avoid being in this situation.”

“There is only one way to make this behavior stop and that is to expel Rep. Simons from this House,” Pollert said.

Simons, who denied wrongdoing, was defiant before the vote. He blamed accusers for “twisting my words,” said any other lawmaker could be in his position and complained that he wasn’t being afforded due process.

“I could make any accusation against any of you,” Simons said ahead of the vote. “Under this circumstance we are under, you’re guilty.”

Simons is accused of a pattern of sexually aggressive, lewd, and threatening behavior. Republican Rep. Emily O’Brien said his harassment was so pervasive that she switched desks to get away from him.

“Prior to coming forward, I struggled with whether this was something I wanted to relive,” she told fellow House members. “It is hard to rehash the unwarranted, disturbing and uncomfortable experiences. I think ‘shame on you, Emily O’Brien, for not coming forward and being a voice for others.’ ”

A 14page document compiled by the nonpartisan Legislative Council includes allegations that Simons made “advances” toward female staffers and interns, commented on their appearances and tried to give one staffer an unsolicited shoulder massage. One staffer described his behavior as “really creepy.”

The council released two additional documents this week alleging inappropriate and bizarre behavior by Simons, a 43yearold rancher and barber who is married and has five children. One woman said Simons referred to her as “that pretty one,” and insulted her husband, “saying that usually women who are classy dressers like myself are married to shmucks like my husband.”