Salem, OR. — Oregon House Republicans paused floor deliberations Monday, alleging Democratic leaders did not fully investigate claims that Representative Jason Kropf, D-Bend, created a “hostile working environment” during a recent committee vote, and addressing his resignation from the House Committee on Conduct.
According to a press release from House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer’s office, the dispute stems from a Rule 27 conduct complaint filed after a vote in the House Judiciary Committee on House Bill 4145, a firearm bill for which Kropf is a chief sponsor.
During the committee meeting last week, Representative Thúy Trần, D-Portland, initially voted against the bill after expressing concerns that it was contradictory and could be harmful to lawful gun owners. Kropf then asked the committee to stand at ease, and Trần followed him into the hallway. When the committee reconvened about 10 minutes later, Trần voted in favor of the bill, breaking a potential 5-4 tie and allowing it to advance to the House floor.
A conduct complaint was subsequently filed alleging that Kropf “verbally abused” and “intimidated” another lawmaker into changing her vote. Trần acknowledged the complaint, stating that Kropf “created a hostile working environment.”
On Monday, after Democrats delayed the House floor session for more than two hours, Representative Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, made a motion to accept Kropf’s resignation from the House Committee on Conduct and replace him with Representative Tawna Sanchez, D-North and Northeast Portland. The motion was ruled undebatable.
In a statement included in the release, Leader Elmer said the allegation is serious and should be addressed through a transparent process.
“The allegation that a lawmaker created a hostile working environment by intimidating another lawmaker into changing their vote is a serious allegation that creates distrust in the democratic process,” Elmer said. “It must be properly addressed and thoroughly investigated through a transparent process that respects the victim and remedies the wrong committed against them.”
Elmer said she is requesting that the Legislative Equity Office conduct a full investigation into the matter that is both inclusive and transparent.
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