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February 22, 2012 in Idaho
Idaho Senate leader resigns amid sex harassment charges
Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, center, announces the resignation Wednesday of Senate Majority Caucus Chairman John McGee, R-Caldwell, after sexual harassment allegations involving a Senate staffer.
(Full-size photo)
BOISE — Republican Sen. John McGee resigned from the Idaho Legislature on Wednesday amid allegations of sexual harassment involving a female senate aide, capping a political free-fall that began last year with a drunken driving arrest.
McGee, a four-term senator from Caldwell and the fourth ranking member of the chamber, submitted his resignation letter this morning.
Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, said it was McGee’s decision to step down. But Hill and other GOP leaders also made it clear it would be difficult for McGee to keep his seat and leadership post amid the new allegations.
“My first priority is to ensure the safe secure and professional work environment of the senate employees,” Hill told reporters after meeting with the Senate GOP caucus. “My second priority is to protect the integrity of the institution.”
Hill did not share details of the allegations, but said the case was brought to his attention Saturday. McGee did not admit to any wrongdoing, Hill said.
The Idaho Attorney General’s Office is investigating the claims.
McGee did not immediately return telephone messages today. McGee was absent from the Senate and Idaho on Capitol today and missed several votes, including an opportunity to break a 17-17 tie on a wolf hunting measure.
Minority Democrats said they were informed of McGee’s resignation this morning and were shocked by the news.
“Whenever any of our members has this happen, it’s sobering,” said Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum. “It’s a sad day for the Senate.”
McGee’s sunny disposition and rapid rise in the Senate at just 38 made him constant fodder for talk that he’d seek higher elected office. His departure from the Senate likely means any further political aspirations he had are over.
The resignation caps a difficult year for McGee, who was arrested on June 19 — Father’s Day. McGee began drinking at a Boise golf tournament, and says he largely blacked out and simply doesn’t remember the details of what happened next.
According to police, McGee took a Ford Excursion and cargo trailer from the southwest Boise home of a “complete stranger” and got it stuck in a yard. A breath test showed McGee’s blood-alcohol content at nearly twice the legal limit.
Last summer, McGee pleaded guilty to drunken driving in a deal that erased accompanying auto theft charges. He served jail time and paid restitution for a stranger’s vehicle that he damaged.
McGee’s reputation was further bruised over the summer when the AP reported that despite having a home just 26 miles from the Capitol, he had been claiming a $122 per diem during the Legislature that adds up to some $6,000 annually. The money is meant to defray the cost of a second residence in Boise, but McGee was spending nights at his parents’ house in Boise.
Most southwestern Idaho lawmakers claim a $49 per diem.
At the start of the 2012 session, McGee apologized to his colleagues for his actions and survived efforts calling for him to step down from his leadership post.
© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Memorial Day observances 
misjustice on February 22 at 4:18 p.m.
What?
A MALE politician resigns over a “sex scandal”? I’m SHOCKED, SHOCKED!
And it’s MY sexual organs that they want to regulate, probe, record, and control?
*smirk*
SMARTGUY on February 22 at 4:25 p.m.
At least it was with a woman for once, way to go John.
Dazzeetrader11 on February 22 at 4:32 p.m.
YAY!!!…just cannot look sideways these days.
zelda on February 22 at 4:38 p.m.
He’ll probably be replaced by some guy who wants to repeal the 19th Amendment. Or, if women can vote at all, they will have to pay for the privilege with gold or silver coin of the realm.
toons on February 22 at 4:41 p.m.
Gotta Love those Republican Family Values !!
force_vector on February 22 at 5:14 p.m.
This guy ended up being a real piece of work. If you ask me, not being mature enough for the position he found himself in played a large part in his demise.
Having a D or an R next to your name doesn’t in any way reflect personal character, nor does it reflect on personal behavior. In the end, either is just a letter.
lowtechmaster on February 22 at 5:33 p.m.
That’s another reason why across the nation the state is known as Ida-HO-HO-HO!
force_vector on February 22 at 5:39 p.m.
lowtech -
Really? Have you been “across the nation”? I have, may times. I’ve never once come across that term. Perhaps your stereotypes exists solely in your lowtech head?
force_vector on February 22 at 5:41 p.m.
exist*
drywitt99 on February 22 at 5:43 p.m.
A drunk….a defrauder…..a sexual predator….A REPUBLICAN.
But then I repeat myself.
RedCedar on February 22 at 5:52 p.m.
The Party took a big gamble by keeping him on after his drunken episode. They essentially hitched their image to his future behavior, and now that he’s failed again, there’s no way to avoid collateral damage. There were surely plenty of competent people they could have replaced him with after his first (?) lapse of judgment. Maybe they owed him a big favor or maybe he has the dirt on some other important Republicans, but I can’t understand why they would wait until his third very public lapse of judgment to dump him.
Dazzeetrader11 on February 22 at 6:49 p.m.
drywitt99 on February 22 at 5:43 p.m.
A drunk….a defrauder…..a sexual predator….A REPUBLICAN.
But then I repeat myself.
Dimbrain…I thought you were decribing Bill Clinton…the Democrat.!!
Diana on February 22 at 6:58 p.m.
But then, drywitt99 could have been describing one of these family values types.
http://www.republicanoffenders.com/
force_vector on February 22 at 6:58 p.m.
Allow me to present to you all Exhibits A and B regarding the follies of partisan allegiance:
Exhibit A - drywitt99
Exhibit B - Dazzee
Thank you. Have a good night.
force_vector on February 22 at 6:59 p.m.
Exhibit C - Diana
drywitt99 on February 22 at 7:08 p.m.
Pissed off Dazed…..ALWAYS FUN!!
BTW: Dazed….please cite evidence of your drunk slander of President Clinton.
You know……arrest record…..FACTS….not simply YOUR ramblings.
Pissed off F_V…..sorry you cannot recognize hyperbole.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperbole
I thought better of you.
force_vector on February 22 at 7:15 p.m.
The fundamental problem is this:
Dazzee can clearly see the falsehoods in statements made by drywitt. Drywitt can clearly see the falsehoods in statements made by dazzee. However, neither of them, through sheer partisan blindness, can see the falsehoods in their own statements.
Folks, if we are to be better people, less prone to exhibiting the the very qualities of those who we despise due to stereotyping (drywitt will provide you a link to the definition if needed), we must get beyond these abstract simplifications of personal reflection dictated by those who would see us as slaves to their political ambitions.
drywitt99 on February 22 at 7:35 p.m.
@F-V: The self-identified “adult in the room.”
This is an area for COMMENTS….OPINIONS…..
“A plague on both your houses….”…..although your OPINION….is in no way superior to MINE.
But it DOES beat the hell out of Dazed’s ramblings.
force_vector on February 22 at 7:45 p.m.
“But it DOES beat the hell out of Dazed’s ramblings.”
Fair enough, drywitt. I can accept that :)
drywitt99 on February 22 at 7:55 p.m.
Thanks buddy…. :)
force_vector on February 22 at 8:18 p.m.
I don’t always argue with drywitt, but when I do, I drink dos equis. Stay thirsty my friends.
drywitt99 on February 22 at 8:38 p.m.
Lol x 10 :)
force_vector on February 22 at 8:42 p.m.
haha! night man
drywitt99 on February 22 at 8:43 p.m.
sleep well…
nslopeofw on February 22 at 10:44 p.m.
Hell, if he were a SPD officer, the DUI wouldn’t count, and the sexual harassment would be a disease that no one helped him treat. He should sue the state, precedent has been set in Spokane, he’ll win millions and get his job back.
idahosnative on February 23 at 1:03 a.m.
hey…smart guy: YOU STOLE MY LINE.
google Tex Williams song, the night miss nancy anns hotel for single girls burnt down.