Sen. Norm McAllister, who is facing felony sexual assault charges, told Lt. Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday that he will not resign.
Scott, who presides over the Vermont Senate, responded by stripping the Franklin County Republican of his committee assignments. Scott, on behalf of the Committee on Committees, announced the decision Thursday afternoon. The other committee members, Sens. John Campbell, D-Windsor, and Dick Mazza, D-Chittenden/Grand Isle, agreed.
McAllister was removed from his role on the Senate Agriculture and Senate Institutions committees, Scott said. Mazza will serve on the Agriculture Committee and Campbell will serve on Institutions for now, Scott said.
Campbell, the Senate pro tem, said Thursday that if McAllister does not resign before the next session begins in January, Campbell would move to have him expelled. Friday will be McAllister’s last day of pay, Campbell said.
“If he doesn’t resign, then I will be making recommendations to move toward expulsion,” Campbell said. “Again, I’m sure his victims are sitting back at home saying, yeah let him be a senator. It’s not right.”
Scott said McAllister, who was arrested at the Statehouse one week ago and pleaded not guilty to three felony sexual assault charges and three misdemeanor charges, called Scott’s office Thursday and left a message saying he would not resign his seat.
“I don’t believe your continued service is in the best interest of your constituents, the Legislature or the Senate as an institution,” Scott read from a letter he sent to McAllister. “I truly hope you will reconsider.”
Scott said the decision was not a rush to judgment and that McAllister could be reinstated, but the Republican lieutenant governor was firm in saying he believes McAllister should step down.
“I felt that it was appropriate to take some action in some way,” he said. “By stripping his committee responsibilities from him, that would at least send the message that we take it seriously and that he can’t fulfill his senatorial duties at this time.”
A week ago, Scott believed that McAllister intended to resign but the senator has apparently changed his mind. In the meantime, former state Sen. Randy Brock came forward as a candidate to replace McAllister, should he resign.
Campbell is unenthusiastic about a Brock appointment. While Campbell says Brock did a “nice job” while he was in the Senate, the pro tem is concerned about the former gubernatorial candidate using the floor as a platform for another run for governor.
“Randy has voiced interest in running for governor, and I don’t want the Senate floor to become pretty much just to be the soundbite capital for another race for governor and that’s what my fear would be,” Campbell said.
Rep. Carolyn Branagan, R-Georgia, said Thursday that she was asked to submit her name for consideration as well. If McAllister were to resign, Gov. Peter Shumlin would name a replacement to serve until the 2016 election.
McAllister, a Franklin farmer, is accused of sexually assaulting two women in exchange for providing shelter and of attempting to coerce a third. He pleaded not guilty May 8 at Franklin Superior Court in St. Albans.
McAllister was arrested at the Statehouse last week and later pleaded not guilty to three counts of felony sexual assault and three counts of prohibited acts, a misdemeanor.
“I wouldn’t say it’s passing judgment so much as dealing with the situation at hand. This can be reversed at any time. He can be placed back on those committees at any time,” Scott said.
But he said the Senate needed to send a message.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with quotes from Campbell at 7:58 p.m. May 14.
