Assembly Democratic leaders are considering “all options” for punishing Rep. Josh Zepnick, D-Milwaukee, after two women accused him of sexual misconduct.
Their discussion comes as Zepnick has resisted calls from top Democrats to resign from office.
The Cap Times reported Friday that two women said Zepnick had kissed them without their consent, one in 2011, the other in 2015.
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Zepnick told the paper he had no recollection of the alleged incidents but apologized for his actions. He did not respond to a request for comment from Wisconsin Public Radio.
Shortly after the initial story broke, several Democrats called on Zepnick to resign, including Democratic Party of Wisconsin Executive Director Martha Laning and Assembly Democratic Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh.
“As the leaders of the Assembly Democratic caucus, we take these allegations seriously,” said a statement from Hintz on behalf of the Assembly Democratic leadership team. “Accordingly, it is our hope that Representative Zepnick will take the appropriate action and resign.”
Zepnick told The Cap Times that his life was back on track, that he’d been sober for two years, and he would not resign.
On Monday, Hintz’ office said it was evaluating “all options” for discipline against Zepnick.
The Associated Press reports that could include removing Zepnick from all the committees he sits on or prohibiting him from attending caucus meetings.
It could also include censuring Zepnick or expelling him from the Assembly. An expulsion would take a bipartisan vote of two-thirds of all representatives.
The last time lawmakers even discussed such a move was in 2014, following reports that then-Majority Leader Bill Kramer sexually assaulted a woman at a Republican fundraiser.
No expulsion vote was ever taken and Kramer was allowed to serve out his term, though he was stripped of his leadership position and was eventually sentenced to five months in jail.
The last state lawmaker to be censured by his colleagues was former Rep. Jeff Wood in 2010.
Wood, a Republican-turned-Independent lawmaker from Chippewa Falls, was arrested repeatedly for driving under the influence.
Editor’s Note: This story was last updated at 4:27 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, with original reporting by WPR.
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