AUGUSTA — The Maine House of Representatives voted 74-69 Wednesday to call for an ethics investigation into one of its members.
Rep. Lucas Lanigan, a Sanford Republican, is facing a domestic violence aggravated assault charge following an incident with his partner in October in which he is accused of choking her during an argument.
Lanigan denies the charge and is due back in court in March. During a hearing in late October, his partner told a judge that the incident did not occur and asked that the charges be dropped, according to the Associated Press.
On Wednesday, House Majority Leader Matt Moonen (D-Portland) said a House panel should determine whether Lanigan meets the standards expected of a state lawmaker.
During a speech on the House floor, Moonen read part of the Legislative Code of Ethics, saying that it requires lawmakers to “engage in civility and responsible conduct inside and outside of the State House.”
He said a police report describes “grievously serious domestic violence allegations.”
“It is true that right now these allegations remain charges and Rep. Lanigan has not yet been found guilty for the crimes he is alleged to have committed,” Moonen said.
Regardless, Moonen said the House Ethics Committee should launch its own investigation to ensure that Lanigan can continue to serve in the House.
“Referring this matter to the Ethics Committee will ensure the public’s confidence that the House of Representatives takes these allegations and the integrity of the members serving in this institution seriously,” he said.
After the vote, Lanigan told a Spectrum News reporter that the outcome was “unfortunate.”
And although Democrats control the chamber with 75 seats, the vote did not fully break along partisan lines with at least 20 members — Democrats and Republicans — breaking ranks with their party.
Prior to the vote, Assistant House Minority Leader Katrina Smith (R-Palermo) tried to convince the House to let the charges play out in the courts.
“If this body rejects the concept that due process is a guarantee of each citizen we are trampling our constitutional rights,” she said.
Smith described the allegations against Lanigan as “very serious” and said she and other Republicans “support all victims of domestic violence.”
But she said it’s up to the judicial branch of government to handle these issues, not the legislative branch.
“This matter is clearly a matter for the judicial branch to determine the outcome,” she said.
Lanigan is serving his second term in the House following a one-vote win on election night in November, an outcome that was determined after a recount.
The vote to call for an investigation came at the end of an otherwise routine day for the Legislature, which returned to Augusta to begin a two-year session.
The order gives the ethics committee one month to complete its investigation.