The investigation into Ohio state lawmaker Elliot Forhan has found that he was justified in facing disciplinary action for his alleged erratic and abusive behavior. Witnesses supported accusations of Forhan’s confrontational behavior towards lawmakers, constituents, and lobbyists over the past year. As a result, Forhan lost all of his committee assignments and was banned from contacting interns, pages, and Democratic legislative aides by House Minority Leader C. Allison Russo. He was also required to have a House sergeant-at-arms accompany him while at the Statehouse.
According to the report, Forhan repeatedly failed to comply with the requirement of having a sergeant-at-arms accompany him, showing up unannounced at the Statehouse and a nearby legislative office building. The report also highlighted instances where Forhan yelled at the sergeant-at-arms or his assistants. The investigation concluded that if Forhan’s behavior had gone unchecked, it could have posed a significant threat to the institutional integrity and reputation of the Ohio House, potentially escalating to violence. However, the report also noted that Forhan’s actions did not warrant his removal from office.
Forhan responded to the investigation by calling it a “sham” and disputed the notion that his actions could escalate to violence. He was elected to his first term in 2022 but was defeated in the Democratic primary last month and will be leaving office at the end of the year. Despite the findings of the investigation, Forhan maintains his stance that his behavior did not reach the level of violence or violent conduct, as suggested by the report. The investigation was requested by Ohio legislative leaders and conducted by a Columbus law firm appointed by Republican Attorney General Dave Yost.
Overall, the independent investigation into Ohio state lawmaker Elliot Forhan found that his behavior warranted disciplinary action for alleged erratic and abusive conduct towards colleagues, constituents, and lobbyists. Forhan lost his committee assignments and was banned from contacting interns and Democratic legislative aides, with a requirement to have a House sergeant-at-arms accompany him while at the Statehouse. The report concluded that if his behavior had been left unchecked, it could have posed a significant threat to the institutional integrity of the Ohio House, potentially escalating to violence. Forhan disputed the findings of the investigation, calling it a “sham” and maintaining that his actions did not amount to violence or violent conduct. Despite his disagreement, Forhan was defeated in the Democratic primary last month and will be leaving office at the end of the year.
