Federal court shoots down ousted Arizona lawmaker’s appeal

PHOENIX (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a former Arizona legislator who was expelled by the state House in 2018 for sexual harassment.

The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a Thursday opinion that Republican Don Shooter failed to show that the proceedings that let to his expulsion violated the law.

Shooter sued former House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, a fellow Republican who currently is a state senator, and other Republicans alleging that they orchestrated his expulsion as part of a conspiracy.

Shooter was accused by a female legislator of sexual harassment. He denied any wrongdoing and refused to resign.

Shooter’s attorney Tom Horne did not immediately respond to an emailed message seeking comment.

The Arizona Supreme Court last month dismissed part of a separate lawsuit filed by Shooter over his ouster.

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