By Howard Fischer | Arizona Capitol Times
Key Points:
- Sen. Jake Hoffman seeks to eject Sen. Analise Ortiz from Senate over an immigration enforcement post
- Hoffman files ethics complaint, alleging disorderly behavior and violation of public trust by Ortiz
- Ortiz faces potential federal investigation for alleged interference with ICE operations
The head of the conservative Freedom Caucus is moving to eject Sen. Analise Ortiz from the Senate because she informed followers on her social media about immigration enforcement in her community.
In an ethics complaint filed on Sept. 3, Sen. Jake Hoffman contends that the action by the Phoenix Democrat fits within the definition of disorderly behavior. The Queen Creek Republican also said it runs afoul of Senate rules for violating the public trust and for being “unethical or unprofessional conduct.”
But Hoffman, who is asking for expulsion, acknowledged that he probably doesn’t have the necessary two-thirds vote in the Senate where Republicans hold only 17 of the 30 seats. So instead he wants something just short of that, including kicking her out of her office space, removal from all committees and even stripping her of any staff support — all things that could be done either by Senate President Warren Petersen himself or with a simple majority vote of the Senate.
