The Arizona House of Representatives has expelled Republican lawmaker Kelly Townsend after an ethics committee investigation found she had committed "disorderly behavior" in violation of the chamber's rules. The investigation was prompted by a complaint from a Democratic legislator after Townsend invited an insurance agent to a televised hearing, who made unsubstantiated allegations of bribery. Townsend's actions were found to have damaged the "institutional integrity of the House," and she was expelled in a House vote. This is the first time in Arizona's history that a legislator has been removed from office by their peers, emphasizing the importance of upholding the integrity of the legislative process.
