brian-ellis

Grand jury recommends no charges against ex-state rep. accused of sexual assault but pushes Legislature for reforms

BY: - August 26, 2019

Brian Ellis, who served in the Pennsylvania House from 2002 until resigning in March of this year, was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2015.

Special election candidates Sam Doctor and Marci Mustello. (Courtesy campaign Facebook pages)

Union-driven campaigns have helped Pa. Democrats flip red seats. Could it notch them one more victory?

BY: - April 29, 2019

Union-backed Democrat Sam Doctor is taking on Republican Marci Mustello in the May 21 special election.

Special election to replace resigning Ellis to take place on primary day

BY: - March 20, 2019

The open Butler County house seat once held by Republican Rep. Brian Ellis, who resigned earlier this week following sexual assault allegations, will be filled in a special election May 21st — the same day as the state’s municipal primaries. House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, announced the date Wednesday. Candidates will be chosen the local […]

COMMENTARY

This map explains the depth of America’s affordable housing crisis | Tuesday Morning Coffee

BY: - March 19, 2019

No state has an adequate supply of homes for its poorest renters, a new report concludes

Under investigation for sexual assault, Butler County GOP Rep. Brian Ellis resigns from state House

BY: - March 18, 2019

Republican state Rep. Brian Ellis, R-Butler, has resigned from the state House effective immediately. In a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Turzai, Ellis said that he has “concluded for the best interests of my family, the residents of the 11th House district and my own health” that he leave office. Ellis is under […]

Sexual assault complaint against Butler County lawmaker filed with Pa. House GOP

BY: - March 13, 2019

A woman who has accused state Rep. Brian Ellis, R-Butler, of sexual assault has sent a formal complaint against him to a lawyer working for the House Republican majority, according to reporting by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Philadelphia Inquirer. The complaint stems from an incident in October 2015, when the victim went out to a […]

Can the Pa. Legislature be trusted to investigate its own #MeToo allegations?

BY: and - February 6, 2019

There is still no system to investigate sexual harassment complaints uniformly in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Bipartisan lawmakers are floating proposals to change that.