GOP proposal could bury ethics complaints — including sexual assault allegations

By Lauren Necochea
Reader Contributor

With great power comes great responsibility. We should expect our elected leaders to conduct themselves according to the highest ethical standards. Sadly, a Republican proposal would make it easier to cover up serious allegations against the lawmakers who represent you.

The Idaho House Ethics and Policy Committee responds to ethics complaints against its members. Under the current rule, if four-fifths of the committee agrees there is probable cause of misconduct, the complaint becomes public and an open hearing follows. Now, a proposed rule change passed out of committee by Republicans would keep ethics complaints under wraps unless the committee vote is unanimous.

That proposal is especially troubling after watching legislators dismiss a serious report because the alleged perpetrator was a political ally.

I served in the House in 2021, when it held public ethics hearings related to allegations that then-Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger sexually assaulted a teenage intern. Idahoans could hear testimony, evaluate the evidence and watch the process out in the open. When the House was poised to vote on sanctions, von Ehlinger resigned. A jury later convicted him of rape and von Ehlinger was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The process brought the truth into the open, and justice ultimately prevailed. But the truth had to overcome disgusting tactics by von Ehlinger’s far-right political allies, who tried to discredit his victim. Former-Rep. Dorothy Moon, now chair of the Idaho Republican Party, testified about the intern’s body language, suggesting that because she touched her hair one day, von Ehlinger was entitled to sexual acts. Former-Rep. Priscilla Giddings publicized the intern’s identity, posting a link with her photo on social media — an act that is hard to interpret as anything but victim intimidation. Rep. Vito Barbieri, who is now sponsoring the current push for secrecy, wrote a character letter for von Ehlinger in his criminal case, calling him “an upstanding person” who “conducted himself as a gentleman.” Former-Rep. Mike Kingsley also wrote in support.

Under Barbieri’s proposed rule, if von Ehlinger had just one ally like them on the committee overseeing ethics complaints, that person would have the power to keep the public from learning of the allegation.

We know where the instinct to conceal the misconduct of allies and powerful people can lead. The cover-up surrounding the horrific crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and his associates is a stark reminder.

No survivor of sexual assault, no whistleblower and no citizen should be asked to trust a process concealed behind closed doors. Investigating credible reports out in the open is how we hold leaders accountable and, hopefully, deter harmful, unethical behavior. Idaho deserves leaders who will shine a light on darkness, regardless of the political ramifications.

Lauren Necochea is chair of the Idaho Democratic Party and a former District 19 legislator. Necochea spent a decade leading nonprofit programs dedicated to research and advocacy in tax policy, health care and children’s issues.