By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Dustin Gardiner | The Republic
Don Shooter, who was ousted from office after an investigation found he sexually harassed women over many years, filed a precursor to a lawsuit Monday, saying the process used to oust him from the House of Representatives was rigged.
Shooter claims he was denied due process, and that sexual misconduct allegations involving another lawmaker, Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, were not given equal scrutiny. Ugenti-Rita was the first woman to publicly accuse Shooter of inappropriate behavior.
Shooter asks for $1.3 million to settle his case, according to his notice of claim, which names as defendants Gov. Doug Ducey’s chief of staff, Kirk Adams, and House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler.
The 17-page claim, obtained by The Arizona Republic, also calls for state officials to give Shooter access to all evidence compiled by investigators so he can make his own case in court.
