Texas Rep. Bryan Slaton resigned from office Monday, two days after an investigation committee determined he violated multiple rules by providing alcohol to and having sexual intercourse with a 19-year-old member of his staff. Slaton, a Republican in his second term representing Royse City, a suburb northeast of Dallas, quickly established a reputation in the Legislature as a conservative bomb thrower. He filed or supported legislation to ban drag shows and to oppose transgender rights.
He did not address the findings against him in his resignation letter to Gov. Greg Abbott. His resignation comes a day before Texas House members are scheduled to vote to expel Slaton on a recommendation from the chamber's General Investigating Committee. On Monday, Rep. Andrew Murr, who heads the investigating committee, said he will go through with Tuesday's vote, because by resigning Slaton stays in office until his successor is elected.
Murr's committee found that on three occasions Slaton violated the House personnel drug and alcohol policy by providing alcohol to an underaged person and that Slaton harassed the aide by showing her an email from an unknown person that he likely fabricated that revealed information about the sexual encounter. #Queer Up Politics