Texas House committee recommends expelling Rep. Bryan Slaton
The House General Investigative Committee found that Slaton, a Republican from Royse City, engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a subordinate.
Austin, Texas – (THE TEXAS GRANDSTAND) A House committee has recommended the expulsion of Republican state representative Bryan Slaton after it was found he engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a subordinate.
In a speech from the floor, Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, chairman of the House General Investigative Committee, said Slaton’s behavior was “induced by alcohol” that the Rep. supplied the 19-year-old woman.
“Rep. Slaton then took systematic action to influence that subordinate and multiple witnesses to obstruct the investigation,” Murr said.
Murr said Slaton’s ouster was necessary to protect the “dignity and integrity” of the legislature.
After Murr’s speech, the clerks distributed the Slaton report to the House Committee on General Investigations. The members sat in silence for about 10 minutes and read it. Slaton sat at his desk, occasionally glancing at his phone. President Dade Phelan then resumed normal lawmaking.
A Capitol employee filed a complaint with the committee last month alleging that Slaton, 45, had sex with one of his employees, a woman under 21, and gave her alcohol. The complaint, which was reviewed by the Texas Tribune, said the incident occurred at Slaton’s Austin apartment in March.
Slaton has repeatedly declined to comment on the allegations. His attorney in April released a statement calling the claims “outrageous” and “false” without specifying further. Slaton remained silent when reporters asked him questions as he left the committee hearing on Thursday.
The committee of three Republicans and two Democrats met privately for about 90 minutes Friday night, but its chairman Murr declined to comment afterward.
The committee is also believed to be looking into claims that Representative Jolanda Jones, a Democrat from Houston, created a “violent and hostile” work environment in her office.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune.
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