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Montana Senate votes to censure Sen. Ellsworth, revoking nearly all legislative abilities

On April 1, 2025, the Montana Senate voted to censure Sen. Jason Ellsworth after an ethics investigation.
The censure followed a legislative audit report and stemmed from an ethics investigation into a government contract with Bryce Eggleston's company.
Sen. Ellsworth signed the state onto two contracts totaling $170,100 with Eggleston, a longtime business associate, without disclosing their relationship.
The Senate voted 44-6 to censure Ellsworth, removing him from committees and banning him from the Senate floor for life, though he can vote remotely.
Lawmakers expressed mixed reactions, with some believing the censure was appropriate while others, like Sen. Shelley Vance, felt it went too far.

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Montana Free Press

+2 Reposted by 2 other sources

Center

Ellsworth receives lifetime ban from Montana Senate floor for ethics violation

Former Senate leader Jason Ellsworth was banned from the Senate floor for life as part of a censure stemming from an ethics investigation into a government contract awarded to a friend.

3 days ago

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Bozeman Daily Chronicle

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KULR-TV

Lean Left

Montana Senate punishes Ellsworth, revokes floor privileges for life

Censure motion is ‘everything but expulsion,’ removing access to office space, Senate chamber, and legislative staff.

3 days ago·Cherokee County, United States

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Helena Independent Record

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Center

Montana Senate votes to censure Sen. Ellsworth, revoking nearly all legislative abilities

The Montana Senate resoundingly voted to censure Hamilton Sen. Jason Ellsworth, a move that includes a lifetime ban from the chamber.

3 days ago·Helena, United States

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Daily Montanan

Lean Left

Montana Senate votes to punish Ellsworth, revokes lifetime floor privileges

Senator Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, watches a vote during the Senate Floor Session on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. (Nathaniel Bailey for the Daily Montanan)As the Senate chamber emptied on Tuesday afternoon, a sergeant-at-arms cleared off the desk of Sen. Jason Ellsworth. The Montana Senate voted 44-6 to punish the Hamilton Republican, for his failure to disclose a conflict of interest in procuring a contract for a close friend, and for a “pa…

3 days ago

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KPAX

+3 Reposted by 3 other sources

Center

Montana Senate bars Ellsworth from floor for life, removes him from committees

The Montana Senate has reached an agreement to punish former Senate President Jason Ellsworth after an ethics investigation. It comes a week after senators initially deadlocked on whether to expel him from the Senate or censure him.The Montana Constitution gives the Senate the authority to expel or punish a member for good cause if two-thirds of senators agree. On Tuesday, 44 out of 50 senators supported a motion that removes Ellsworth from all …

3 days ago

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