Judge denies Shooter’s request for documents from sexual harassment investigation

Former lawmaker Don Shooter was denied a request Monday that would have allowed him access to documents regarding his sexual harassment investigation. The investigation led to his expulsion from the Arizona House of Representatives in February.

Shooter believed the documents would reveal more about the intentions of Arizona Representative Michelle Ungenti-Rita, who accused Shooter of sexual harassment, according to a statement Shooter released to News 11:

“We know that a courageous former legislative staff member, with her attorney, provided physical evidence, witnesses and multiple testimonies to the independent investigator…that while on staff Ugenti-Rita subjected her repeatedly to egregious sexual harassment. However, at the direction of the Speaker of the House the existence of this victim though documented by the investigator was excluded by the taxpayer-funded independent investigative reporter in order to shield the victim from further involvement in this ordeal we fought this motion to compel. The evidence we thought already provided by the victim to the state’s investigator on my accusers lack of truthfulness, bad character and what should no longer remain covered up by a corrupt man in power, speak JD Mesnard.”

In August, News 11 spoke to the lawyer of the investigator who said they would not release the documents because it would violate attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine.