The GAE’s Democrat majority refused the two Republican legislators’ request to further discuss the matter during today’s committee meeting. In response, Freedman and Hetherington have formally requested, in writing, that the GAE Committee exercise its authority to conduct its own investigation, and hold its own public hearing, in the aftermath of the State Capitol Police findings that the incident “did not rise to the level of criminal conduct.”

Representative Hetherington interpreted the Democrat committee members’ refusal to publicly discuss the incident during today’s hearing as their refusal to get involved. “By a party line vote they declined to proceed with an investigation,” said Representative Hetherington.

“The Leadership of the GAE Committee apparently deemed that an investigation into an alleged invasion into a female state employee workplace assigned to their very committee does not merit any inquiry. The incident looks to me like a very deliberate intrusion. I think it is fair to ask who else may have been involved, either in direction or concealment,” said Representative Hetherington.

Senator Freedman, noting that the security video did show desk tampering of a Republican staff person’s desk said she does not believe the punishment imposed on the staff persons involved is sufficient.

“Legislative employees have the right to expect, and demand, that they not work in a hostile environment. Committee staffers have the right to be treated fairly and professionally by their co-workers and superiors whether they are appointed by the minority party or the majority party. If the situation were reversed, I am certain that the Democrats would demand a more vigorous response to this incident – as they demanded a vigorous response into the actions of the Republican Governor’s chief of staff. A sense of fair play demands that the Democrats’ not treat this incident as a simple prank,” said Senator Freedman.

Senator Freedman and Representative Hetherington said that the desk tampering incident is consistent with the overly partisan tone that has been evident in the committee. They pointed out that the GAE Committee is charged with overseeing legislation dealing with government ethics and government transparency.