Former State Senate President Jason Ellsworth, forever banned from the Senate Floor for his Official Misconduct charge, has filed for House District 34, in another part of the state. That seat is currently held by Rep. Jerry Schillinger of Circle. A Democrat has also filed…Jasmine Erickson of Baker.
Ellsworth appeared before Helena District Judge Christopher Abbott, where he pleaded “not guilty” to the single charge of Official Misconduct. The charge, brought by Senate President Matt Regier, a Republican from Kalispell and Rhonda Knudsen, Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s mother. All this stems from the 2-contracts he signed while chairing the Interim Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform. Each covered post-session analysis on about half of the judiciary bills— one for about $88,000 and the other for about $82,000. Auditors say the contracts were “artificially divided” to avoid oversight by the Department of Administration.
Ellsworth’s claim of Legislative Immunity didn’t get past Judge Abbott. If he’s convicted, he would be in jail for 6-months.
Ellsworth claims all this is political and he’s anxious to get back to work in the Legislature, this time in the House. However, he’s restricted from even stepping foot in the Senate Chamber until this is all settled.
