The Texas House voted 147-0 to expel Rep. Bryan Slaton on Tuesday, marking the first time in nearly 100 years the state’s lower chamber ousted one of its own.
The vote came a day after Slaton resigned under pressure after an investigation found he had violated multiple rules by providing alcohol to and having sexual intercourse with a 19-year-old member of his staff.
A second-term Republican representing the northeast Dallas suburb of Royse City, Slaton had quickly made a name for himself as a conservative hard-liner who filed or supported legislation to ban drag shows and to oppose transgender rights.
Had Slaton not been expelled, he would’ve remained an officeholder and kept his pay until a successor was elected through a special election.
Pressure on Slaton had been building since Saturday, when a House investigating committee released a report that determined Slaton had engaged in inappropriate workplace conduct with the 19-year-old aide who works in his office. The report, based on the independent findings of a former criminal court judge from Houston, also showed that on three occasions Slaton provided alcohol to an underaged person, and that he tried to intimidate the aide against discussing their encounter with others.
More:Texas Rep. Bryan Slaton resigns after giving alcohol to, having sex with 19-year-old aide
The House’s General Investigating Committee suggested that because Slaton had primary responsibility for the aide that she “was unable to give effective consent.” Slaton did not deny having sex with the woman and offered no remorse for his actions, the report said.
“Expulsion of a member of this body is rare,” House Speaker Dade Phelan said. “Mr. Slaton’s predatory behavior merits such a consequence. I am proud of my colleagues for holding each of us accountable.”
Slaton is the first House representative expelled in a member vote since 1927 when the chamber ousted F.A. Dale and H.H. Moore in a bribery scandal.
After the expulsion vote Tuesday, an aide on the House floor climbed a ladder and removed Slaton’s name from the chamber’s voting board. Slaton was barred from the House and his nameplate was removed from his desk.
A vote to expel a House member requires support from two-thirds of members, not a simple majority.
“No one in this chamber disagrees that this conduct was wrong,” said Rep. Andrew Murr, who chairs the investigating committee. “We all agree it will not and cannot be tolerated.”
Slaton did not apologize or acknowledge wrongdoing in his resignation letter, which he addressed to Gov. Greg Abbott. He said he was quitting to assure voters in his district “that their expectations will continue to be met by a new representative who will also work hard on their behalf.”
Slaton entered the Texas House in 2021 after unseating longtime Rep. Dan Flynn in the Republican primary.
After the misconduct allegations against him went public, some Texas House representatives portrayed Slaton, a married father and former pastor, as a hypocrite, with some calling him a predator given the age of the woman with whom he’s accused of having intercourse. He had seemingly lost any chance at keeping his job when over the weekend the Texas House Freedom Caucus, whose membership is comprised of hardline conservatives like Slaton, issued a statement condemning his actions and saying they would vote to expel him.
The investigating committee voted unanimously to recommend the expulsion. Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, noted that a witness told investigators that the aide said her intoxicated state led her to have sex with Slaton.
Three House members did not cast a vote on Slaton’s expulsion: Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas, who did not vote and said she had not made up her mind; Carl Sherman, D-DeSoto, who had an excused absence; and Slaton, who was not present.