Day One of Giddings Ethics Hearing

BOISE, ID — An Idaho Republican lawmaker, facing an ethics hearing on Monday, dismissed the charges against her as “irrelevant” and argued that the young Statehouse intern who said she was raped wasn’t actually a victim or entitled to privacy under the law.

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Republican Rep. Priscilla Giddings faced her first day of an ethics hearing surrounded by supporters including militia members, members of an anti-vaccination group and others with far-right political organizations.

Giddings faces two ethics complaints filed by about two dozen lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The complaints stem from Giddings publicizing the rape accuser’s name, photo and personal details about her life in April by sharing links to an far-right news article on social media and in a newsletter to constituents. Giddings faces ethics complaints of “conduct unbecoming a representative, which is detrimental to the integrity of the House as a legislative body.”

Giddings, a lieutenant governor candidate, said the ethics hearing is due to “woke cancel culture” and is politically motivated. She also claimed her actions are protected under First Amendment right to free speech.

After providing an opening statement, Giddings left the hearing, refusing to cross-examine witnesses. Later in the day, Giddings did return as a witness and provided a statement when asked why she identified the intern by name after the rape accusation.

“You’re way out of the park right now because there is no victim, so that doesn’t apply at all,” Giddings said.

Giddings declined to call any witnesses to testify on her behalf, saying she thought that the committee would have served the subpoenas for her. She said she wasn’t able to reach them all by email.

The hearing is scheduled to resume Tuesday, when committee members will decide whether they will recommend that the full House censure, reprimand or expel Giddings.

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