State Sen. Wendy Rogers denied allegations in an ethics complaint that she verbally abused her former legislative assistant weeks into the job.
The Republican lawmaker, in a letter responding to the complaint, described the allegations as a “complete fabrication by an outgoing, brand new employee who worked only one official day for the State of Arizona after the swearing-in of senators.”
The assistant, Michale Polloni, alleged that he was fired on Jan. 14, the day he returned to work from COVID-19. Rogers harassed Polloni while he was on mandatory medical leave, according to his complaint. Also over the course of his short time working for Rogers, Polloni alleged the senator made derogatory comments about his weight and appearance, his sister’s sexual orientation, his family’s political beliefs and his own religious beliefs.
None of that is true, Rogers wrote.
“Overall, from what I saw and heard, I believe his allegations are false because his description of of our interactions was inaccurate and did not reflect the way we communicated,” Rogers wrote in a letter to Senate Ethics Chair Sine Kerr.
Senate rules state that unethical conduct may include any improper conduct that reflects poorly on the Senate. Rogers wrote that doesn’t apply if the allegations aren’t true.
Even if it was all true, Rogers wrote that the complaint should be dismissed because it didn’t cite a specific state law or Senate rule that she allegedly violated.
It’s now up to Kerr, a Buckeye Republican, to determine what action, if any, she’ll recommend the full Ethics Committee should take.
