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A legislative committee in Texas has recommended a state Republican representative known for claiming drag queens "groom" children be expelled for engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior with a teenage intern.
According to The Associated Press, the House General Investigative Committee unanimously recommended Republican Texas state Representative Bryan Slaton be expelled following revelations of his sexual contact with a 19-year-old intern.
Slaton and his attorney have yet to comment on the matter, although his attorneys previously dismissed the allegations as "outrageous" and "false." An investigation into the lawmaker's conduct was initiated after three young aides and interns, aged between 19 and 21, filed complaints against him last month.
The investigation into Slaton's misconduct found he gave alcohol to a teenage intern and another young staff member before having sex with the intern while she was intoxicated. The intern experienced "dizziness" and "double vision" according to the committee's report.
The committee report stated "Slaton's misconduct is grave and serious," adding he abused his position of power, broke employment laws, gave alcohol to a minor and engaged in sexual harassment.
The report also said Slaton showed the young intern a threatening email and instructed her to keep their involvement a secret. Slaton also asked a fellow lawmaker to keep his behavior under wraps.
The report continued:
"The fact that Slaton has not expressed regret or remorse for his conduct is also egregious and unwarranted. It is the Committee's unanimous recommendation that, considering the factors stated above, the only appropriate discipline in this matter is expulsion."
You can watch the video of Slaton's expulsion below.
\u201c#BREAKING Bryan Slaton to be expelled from Texas House of a Representatives! #txlege\u201d— Michelle (@Michelle) 1683394451
Facing widespread condemnation, Slaton opted to resign on Monday.
\u201cNEW: Under mounting pressure, Rep. Bryan Slaton resigns before expulsion vote in Texas House after investigative panel found he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 19-year-old staffer #txlege https://t.co/I9xecUPFID via @TexasTribune\u201d— James Barrag\u00e1n \ud83c\udf1f (@James Barrag\u00e1n \ud83c\udf1f) 1683568725
Many condemned Slaton's actions and called out his blatant hypocrisy.
\u201cI\u2019d be shocked and disgusted by the specifics in the Bryan Slaton report but we\u2019re talking about a state party that still hasn\u2019t condemned Paul Pressler for raping 14 year old boy https://t.co/wXsLogePEa\u201d— Evan (@Evan) 1683480749
\u201cWoah. The Texas House Committee investigating GOP Rep. Bryan Slaton is recommending he be expelled\u2014concluding that he engaged in a sexual relationship and provided alcohol to a 19-year-old intern.\n\nSlaton has led the phony crusade against \u201cgrooming\u201d in Texas.\u201d— Sawyer Hackett (@Sawyer Hackett) 1683396135
\u201c\ud83d\udea8BREAKING\ud83d\udea8\n#TxLege expelling Bryan Slaton over sexual harassment, inappropriate conduct, and supplying alcohol to an underage person. \n\nThis is a very correct ruling, and I hope this starts a new trend of the legislators holding themselves to a higher standard of behavior.\u201d— Michael Quinn Sullivan \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Michael Quinn Sullivan \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1683402336
\u201cIt\u2019s men like this 45-year-old Texas legislator, that gave a 19-year-old aide alcohol, and then had unprotected sex with her at his apartment, that are writing total abortion ban laws.\n\nTexas House committee recommends expelling Rep. Bryan Slaton https://t.co/Gckkpr2wNb\u201d— Overeducated Female, Allegedly \ud83d\udc89\ud83c\udf08\u270a\ud83c\udffd\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf0e\u262e\ufe0f\ud83d\uddfd\ud83c\udf3b (@Overeducated Female, Allegedly \ud83d\udc89\ud83c\udf08\u270a\ud83c\udffd\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf0e\u262e\ufe0f\ud83d\uddfd\ud83c\udf3b) 1683437305
\u201cTX lawmaker Bryan Slaton led legislative attacks against drag queens. He accused them of grooming kids. Now he may be expelled from office for giving alcohol to and having sex with a 19-yr-old intern. #NotADragQueen\u201d— Holy Bullies (@Holy Bullies) 1683558142
\u201cThe House Republicans are something else. The clowns are running around confused how to handle anything. Now it is Bryan Slaton is accused of sleeping with a 19 year old intern. These clowns like Jordan & Comer the farmer should start investigation themselves. Boy what\u201d— Ronald E. DeWeese (@Ronald E. DeWeese) 1683566959
\u201cSlaton made his bed and can lie in it, but let the record fully indicate that (at least) 10 to 15 other reps have done similar things without facing nearly these consequences.\n\n#TXLEGE\n\nhttps://t.co/DG4kOPQUSM\u201d— cahnman (@cahnman) 1683420055
\u201cI could not finish reading the GI Committee Report re: Rep. Bryan Slaton. It\u2019s disturbing & disgusting that a predator like Rep. Slaton is a member of the Texas House. I look forward to voting to expel Mr. Slaton and protecting the integrity of the Texas House of Representatives.\u201d— Rep. Jared Patterson (@Rep. Jared Patterson) 1683394955
Slaton's biography in the Texas House describes him as having attended seminary school and serving as a youth minister for over ten years.
He is married and has a young child.
Slaton has been part of a group of Republicans advocating for bans on access to gender-affirming healthcare and drag queen story hours for children. In an interview last year, he stated "children don't need to be focused on sex and sexualization" and people "need to let them just grow up to be children and let them do that as they're getting closer to being an adult."
Slaton's remarks echoed the talking points from the right-wing, who have pushed hundreds of bills to ban drag queens from performing and restrict gender-affirming care for transgender people.