By Ben Giles | Arizona Capitol Times
A draft policy on sexual harassment is now the blueprint for an Arizona House investigation of allegations nine women have made against Rep. Don Shooter, R-Yuma.
The policy House Speaker J.D. Mesnard released on October 30 to solicit feedback is now being put through the ultimate test of its effectiveness.
The policy is by no means perfect. Mesnard, R-Chandler, acknowledged as much when he sent it to all House lawmakers and staff. But that leaves questions unanswered about the investigative process, the bulk of which will be conducted by outside counsel, attorney Craig Morgan.
Morgan has experience investigating legislative wrongdoing, having served as special counsel on a House Ethics Committee investigation into the behavior of former Rep. Daniel Patterson in 2012.
Arizona Capitol Times analyzed the draft sexual harassment policy, and spoke with Mesnard and House Rules Attorney Tim Fleming, to try to answer basic questions about how the process will work, what may be in store for Shooter and what other victims of harassment can do to have their experiences investigated.
