Montana Senate Delays Ethics Investigation of Former President Jason Ellsworth
HELENA — In a tense session on Thursday, the Montana Senate voted 27-22 to delay the investigation into allegations against former Senate President Jason Ellsworth, a Republican from Hamilton. The motion, proposed by Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, refers the case to the Montana Department of Justice, effectively pausing the Senate Ethics Committee’s proceedings, which were scheduled to start next week.
Ellsworth faces accusations of improperly approving a $170,000 state contract late last year, with a Legislative Audit Division report highlighting “abuse and waste” in his handling of the contract. While Ellsworth and his attorney dispute these claims, the Senate’s decision marks a significant shift in how the investigation will proceed.
The motion received unanimous support from all 18 Senate Democrats, alongside nine Republicans who have recently diverged from party leadership on several votes. This coalition emerged after Senate GOP leaders indicated plans to vote on potentially removing Ellsworth from the Senate Finance and Claims Committee.
Flowers defended the referral, asserting that the Senate process had become overly politicized and that, given the potential for criminal conduct, it was appropriate to let a prosecutor handle the investigation. He emphasized that the ethics committee could reconvene once the Department of Justice concludes its examination.
Conversely, several Republicans voiced their disapproval, arguing that the decision undermines legislative ethics. Senator Mark Noland expressed frustration, claiming, “You all just said ethics doesn’t matter anymore to us.” Others echoed concerns about the public’s perception of legislative integrity.
The Department of Justice announced they would evaluate the referral but withheld further comment for now. Following the vote, both Ellsworth and Senate President Matt Regier declined to comment, and Flowers was also unavailable for further discussion.
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