PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — The special state senate committee looking into an incident by Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller with a state employee recommends the Rapid City Republican be censured and reinstated.
The Senate Select Committee on Discipline and Expulsion met for nearly four hours this evening (Tuesday).
In addition to censure and reinstatement, Sen. Frye-Mueller would be banned from working with the Legislative Research Council.
The state employee works for the LRC and assists legislators in drafting bills and resolutions.
The committee voted to have LRC staff draft the recommendation, which the select committee is scheduled to consider tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon.
Committee chair, Sen. David Wheeler from Watertown, said that if the committee adopts the draft, it would be on the floor of the Senate that same afternoon (Wednesday).
The LRC staffer filed a complaint with the LRC that Sen. Frye-Mueller made comments of a sexual nature about breastfeeding and pleaded with the employee not to vaccinate her baby.
Sen. Frye Mueller’s husband, Mike, was also present at the meeting last week in the LRC offices.
Mr. Mueller is an unpaid lobbyist for Citizens for Liberty.
The committee took the testimony of the LRC staffer in executive session.
Earlier, House leadership said a redacted transcript of her testimony would be made public.
In sometimes emotional testimony, Sen. Frye-Mueller said she had no intent to embarrass or harass the LRC staffer.
She also thought the two of them were friends.
Sen. Frye-Mueller also said the state employee is the one who brought up breastfeeding, saying that she was unable to do so for her infant.
Mr. Mueller said it would be out of character for his wife to discuss a sexual matter, i.e., breastfeeding.
At one point, Sen. Frye-Mueller said the first name of the LRC staffer who made the complaint.
As it is a personnel matter, the committee is not releasing the name of the LRC employee.
Former Speaker of the House Steven Haugaard, a Sioux Falls attorney, represented Sen. Frye-Mueller and Mr. Mueller.
Much of his argument was based on the legislature lacking the constitutional or statutory authority to suspend Sen. Frye-Mueller.
He also said there were additional witnesses he wished to call and needed more time to prepare his client’s case.
During the hearing, Haugaard and committee chair Sen. Wheeler clashed.
Haugaard commented on a legal point being clear to anyone who had ever watched a TV show about courts.
Sen. Wheeler warned Haugaard, saying that Haugaard knew he was a practicing attorney and was offended by the comment,
Sen. Frye-Mueller often referred to her Senate colleagues as “you guys” and said there was a political agenda to “get” her.
This is a continuing story.
