Ethics panel finds Alaska Rep. David Eastman violated ethics law
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An Alaska lawmaker says a legislative ethics panel that found he had violated ethics law has become a "political weapon used for partisan attacks on legislators."
In a statement, Republican Rep. David Eastman says the panel's conduct in his case "should shock the conscience" of Alaskans.
A subcommittee of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics said it found by "clear and convincing evidence" that Eastman had violated ethics law by disclosing the existence of a complaint that was considered confidential.
The decision was released Thursday, two days after a public hearing in which Eastman denied the allegation. The ethics panel says that was the first definitive denial offered by Eastman and was inconsistent with statements he previously made to an investigator.
The Alaska Journal of Commerce in January reported that Eastman told one of its reporters in April 2017 that a complaint had been filed against Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux and suggested the reporter check with the ethics office.
The House in January removed Eastman from his seat on the ethics committee after he was accused of the breach.
No additional sanctions were recommended.