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REFERENCE TITLE: Leezah Sun; expulsion |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session 2024
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HR 2005 |
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Introduced by Representative HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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A Resolution
expelling representative leezah sun from the Arizona house of representatives.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Whereas, on December 14, 2022, then Representative-elect Leezah Sun had a meeting with the Superintendent of the Littleton Elementary School District, Dr. Roger Freeman. At that meeting, Representative Sun asked Dr. Freeman if he was familiar with S.B. 1487, which is codified in state law. Representative Sun stated that it allowed her to have anyone investigated for any reason. Dr. Freeman interpreted her explanation as a threat to either himself or to the district and was so alarmed by her threat that he contacted others in the school district; and
Whereas, on May 31, 2023, Representative Sun attended a meeting at the Tolleson Civic Center with three city employees, Reyes Medrano, Tolleson City Manager, Pilar Sinawi, Tolleson Chief Government Affairs Officer and Alicia Guzman, Tolleson Government Affairs Support Specialist (collectively "Tolleson employees"). At that meeting, Representative Sun became agitated and used offensive language and displayed abusive and aggressive behavior towards the Tolleson employees, which led to them contacting the Tolleson Police Department and filing an incident report; and
Whereas, on June 16, 2023, Representative Sun interfered in the lawful transfer of children from the custody of one parent to another. While speaking with the court-appointed supervisor who was trying to facilitate the custodial transfer, Representative Sun identified herself as a state representative and directed the supervisor to let the children stay with their stepfather. Representative Sun's behavior undermined and obstructed the judicial process, and her actions and comments were perceived by the court-appointed supervisor as hostile, threatening and intimidating; and
Whereas, on August 30, 2023, Representative Sun attended the League of Arizona Cities and Towns conference in Tucson, Arizona. At that conference, she had a meeting with two lobbyists and their client regarding a potential opportunity for the City of Tolleson. One of the lobbyists requested that Representative Sun introduce her to Tolleson's mayor or director of intergovernmental affairs. In response, Representative Sun indicated that the referenced city employee is Pilar Sinawi and that if she saw Ms. Sinawi, she would bitch-slap her, throw her over the balcony and kill her. This statement was very alarming to those who heard it; and
Whereas, the lobbyist later provided a statement to the Tolleson Police Department regarding the threat made by Representative Sun. Ms. Sinawi contacted the Tolleson Police Department regarding Representative Sun's threats, and an incident report was prepared that detailed the events at the conference; and
Whereas, on October 18, 2023, the Tolleson employees filed a petition for workplace injunction against Representative Sun. The Superior Court in Maricopa County granted the petition and entered an order on October 18, 2023 against Representative Sun, which prohibits her from contacting the Tolleson employees and going to or near the Tolleson Civic Center. The order found that Representative Sun is a credible threat to the physical safety of the Tolleson employees and is prohibited from possessing, receiving or purchasing firearms for the duration of the order; and
Whereas, on November 2, 2023, Representatives Lupe Contreras, Oscar De Los Santos, Melody Hernandez and Nancy Gutierrez filed a complaint against Representative Sun regarding her behavior towards the Tolleson employees and during the child custody transfer interference. The complaint noted that Representative Sun's behavior established a pattern that reflected poorly on Representative Sun as well as on the Arizona House of Representative as an institution. The complaint requested that the Arizona House of Representative Committee on Ethics ("Ethics Committee") investigate Representative Sun's actions; and
Whereas, on December 19, 2023, the Ethics Committee held the first evidentiary hearing at which various relevant exhibits and the testimony of witnesses and Representative Sun were considered; and
Whereas, on January 9, 2023, the Littleton Elementary School Board held a public hearing and Representative Sun spoke to the public during the call. During her testimony before the school board, Representative Sun specifically expressed her displeasure at Dr. Freeman's participation in this House Ethics matter; and
Whereas, on January 25, 2024, the Ethics Committee held a second evidentiary hearing at which additional exhibits and testimony of witnesses and Representative Sun were considered; and
Whereas, on January 30, 2024, the Ethics Committee issued its report, which unanimously concluded that Representative Sun committed a pattern of disorderly behavior, thereby violating Rule 1 of the Rules of the Arizona House of Representatives and damaging its institutional integrity and that it is appropriate for the Arizona House of Representative as a whole to determine what, if any, disciplinary measures should be taken. Specifically, the Ethics Committee found that Representative Sun:
1. Levied a death threat toward the Tolleson official while acting in her official capacity as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives.
2. Misused her title and position as a state representative when she knowingly prevented the execution of a lawful court order in a private custodial matter to which she was not a party.
3. Engaged in a pattern of abusing her official title and position as evidenced by the Littleton Elementary School District incident; and
Whereas, on January 30, 2024, the members of the full Arizona House of Representative adopted the Report of the Ethics Committee as the findings of the Arizona House of Representatives.
Therefore
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona:
1. That the Members of the House of Representatives find that Representative Leezah Sun violated House of Representatives Rule 1 and engaged in disorderly behavior.
2. That Representative Leezah Sun's conduct undermined the public's confidence in this institution and violated the order and decorum necessary to complete the people's work in the State of Arizona.
3. That in the exercise of the power granted to the House of Representatives by Article IV, part 2, section 11, Constitution of Arizona, the House of Representatives, with the concurrence of two-thirds of its members, hereby condemns the actions of Representative Leezah Sun and expels her from the Arizona House of Representatives.
4. That the seat of the member of the House of Representatives, legislative district 22, occupied by Leezah Sun, is now vacant.