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WEBVTT INTERVIEW YOU WILL ONLY SEE ON FOUR. BEAU: THAT’S THE BIG SURPRISE HERE, HIS OWN PARTY IS SAYING HE SHOULD RESIGN. AT LEAST THOSE AT THE TOP. WE SPOKE WITH ONE MAN MORE LOCALLY WHOSE ALSO PART OF THAT PARTY WHO SAYS THE EXACT OPPOSITE. IN THE LAST 48 HOURS, REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN ELLIS, OF BUTLER COUNTY, HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF DRUGGING AND RAPING A WOMAN AFTER MEETING WITH HER AT A HARRISBURG BAR IN 2015. >> I CAN TELL YOU THAT HER ACCUSATIONS OF RAPE ARE ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE. SHE BELIEVES UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT SHE WAS DRUGGED. SHE DID SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION THE NEXT DAY DUE TO PAIN, AND BRUISING AND INJURIES. BEAU: JENNIFER STORM IS NOT THE ALLEGED VICTIM. THAT WOMAN DOESN’T WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED. BUT STORM IS WORKING WITH HER, IN STORM’S ROLE AS THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE VICTIM ADVOCATE. SHE’S CALLING FOR SWIFT ACTION, BELIEVING ELLIS SHOULD STEP DOWN. THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERS AGREE, ISSUING A STATEMENT FRIDAY RECOMMENDING THAT ELLIS RESIGN. BUT AL LINDSAY, A PROMINENT DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND CHAIR OF THE BUTLER COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE, SAYS OTHERWISE. >> I AM SURPRISED AT THE REACTION OF THE STATE REPUBLICAN LEADERS. FOR HEAVEN’S SAKES. HE HASN’T EVEN BEEN CHARGED WITH ANYTHING. BEAU: ELLIS DID NOT RESPOND TO MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR COMMENT FROM PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4. HE HAS NOT SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS SINCE THE STORY BROKE THURSDAY. >> SHE’S AN INCREDIBLY BRAVE, AMAZING WOMAN. BEAU: WHILE THE VICTIM ADVOCATE PUSHES FOR RESIGNATION ALONG WITH LEADERS OF ELLIS’ PARTY, LINDSAY CAUTIONS AGAINST JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS. >> ALLEGATIONS ARE MADE SOMETIMES WHICH ARE NOT ALWAYS TRUE AND WE CAN’T JUST ASSUME WHEN AN ALLEGATION IS MADE THAT IT IS TRUE. BEAU THE 49-YEAR-OLD REPRESENTATIVE ELLIS IS UNDER INVESTIGATION RIGHT NOW BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. THAT INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. WHILE THE INCIDENT DID HAPPEN NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO, IT IS STILL WITHIN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR PROSECUTION OF A

Advertisement Butler County state lawmaker urged to resign over sex assault claim Rep. Brian Ellis, of Butler County, is reportedly under investigation by Dauphin County authorities Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Pennsylvania state House Republicans on Friday stripped a member of his committee chairmanship and recommended he resign over allegations that he raped an incapacitated woman.Eight-term Rep. Brian Ellis should step down "to take care of his family and address the allegations" about an incident in his home near the Capitol in Harrisburg more than three years ago, House GOP leaders said in a statement. (Scroll down to read full statement.)Ellis, who represents a Butler County district in western Pennsylvania, has not responded to texts, emails and phone messages seeking comment. He has not been charged.House Republican leaders said they were focused on the institution's integrity, staff safety and "the best paths forward for the individual involved -- the accuser and the accused, as well as their respective families. It would be in the best interest of all involved if Rep. Ellis would resign."A spokesman for Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf called the allegations outrageous and unacceptable and said the governor also thinks Ellis should step down.The woman's lawyer, Christine Wechsler, said her client believes she was drugged while having a drink with a friend and has no memory of the ensuing 12 hours. She went to a hospital the next day."She reported to doctors that she had no memory of the previous evening and she believed she was sexually assaulted," Wechsler said Friday.She said the woman is a state employee who has never worked for Ellis.The state's victim advocate, Jennifer Storm, who has been working with the unidentified woman, called her brave and courageous."The goal is to make sure that other women know what this man has done, so that nobody else gets hurt," Storm said.Storm said the woman had rebuffed advances by Ellis "multiple times before. Not just that night."House Republicans said prosecutors are looking into the allegations, although Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo declined comment.The investigation was first reported Thursday by The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Caucus newspapers.Ellis was recently named chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee. House Republican leaders said he will not be assigned to any other committees, pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.The leaders said they also have directed Capitol Police and House Security to add unspecified safety and security measures.Last year, Republican state Rep. Nick Miccarelli declined to seek another term after a state representative accused him of being abusive. Chardo announced in December that he also closed a case involving a political consultant's claims that Miccarelli came to her house after they broke up in 2014 and forced her to have sex, allegations he denied.The House also paid out $250,000 to settle a sexual harassment claim against Democratic Rep. Tom Caltagirone in 2015.And on Friday, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa said his caucus had hired a law firm to look into a woman's claim that she was the victim of sexual misconduct by Sen. Daylin Leach in 1991, when he was a lawyer representing her mother in a criminal matter.Costa acted about a week after a document making allegations against Leach was distributed among the Capitol's Senate offices. Leach, a Democrat, did not return messages but said Thursday on Facebook that he was the victim of injustice and plans a lawsuit.Al Lindsay, chairman of the Butler County Republican Committee cautioned against jumping to conclusions, Friday.“I am surprised at the reaction of the state Republican leaders. For Heaven's sake, he hasn’t even been charged with anything. I’m of the opinion that we shouldn’t demand someone’s resignation until we know whether they’re going to be convicted, whether they’re going to plead guilty, or something of that nature. Here the gentleman hasn’t even been charged, and they’re already screaming for his head. I think it’s very premature. I’m a little surprised. I don’t know their reasons, you see. There may be more to this than I know," Lindsay said. __________Below is the full statement from House Republican leaders:"House Republican leaders are recommending Rep. Brian Ellis resign from office to take care of his family and address the allegations raised against him that are currently the subject of a criminal investigation by the Dauphin County District Attorney."The House Republican Caucus has zero tolerance for any instance of sexual violence or harassment."In furtherance of this policy, the speaker has suspended Rep. Ellis's chairmanship of the Consumer Affairs Committee pending the outcome of the criminal investigation by the Dauphin County District Attorney's office. Furthermore, Rep. Ellis will not be assigned to any other committees."Given the allegations, we have also been in contact with Capitol Police and House Security, and under direction of House leadership, are instituting additional safety and security measures."The complainant deserves to have her allegations of criminal activity thoroughly investigated by police and prosecutors."As elected leaders, we are focused on the integrity of the institution, the safety of capitol staff and members, and the best paths forward for the individuals involved -- the accuser and the accused, as well as their respective families. It would be in the best interest of all involved if Rep. Ellis would resign."