Yunker Demands Audit of Legislative Equity Office After Missed Deadlines, Due Process Failures
By Oregon Representative Dwayne Yunker,
SALEM, Ore. – Representative Dwayne Yunker (R-Grants Pass) is calling for an immediate audit of the Oregon Legislative Equity Office (LEO) following significant procedural failures in an ongoing ethics investigation stemming from floor speeches he gave in March.
Representative Yunker submitted a formal request today to the Joint Committee on Conduct, asking them to evaluate whether the LEO is operating within the bounds of its mission and responsibilities, citing his own unresolved case as a key example of potential misconduct or mismanagement.
“If the office responsible for oversight can’t follow its own rules, that’s a serious problem,” said Representative Yunker. “My experience suggests the system is broken, and taxpayers deserve answers.”
On April 2, Representative Yunker was notified that two complaints had been filed against him under Legislative Rule 27, the rule which governs the legislature’s ethics complaints process. Both complaints were related to floor remonstrances he delivered, one on March 17 and another on March 27. The first involved reading aloud from a sexually explicit book found in a public-school library, in opposition to Senate Bill 1098. The second addressed his concerns, based in biblical belief, regarding gender policies tied to House Bill 3014.
“This investigation is not only baseless; it’s unconstitutional,” said Representative Yunker. “Rule 27 is being used to target speech some disagree with, protected legislative speech, and that’s a dangerous precedent.”
According to Rule 27, investigations must be completed within 84 days, and the complainant and respondent must receive regular updates. Yet more than 105 days after the second complaint was filed, Representative Yunker has received no updates from the LEO or the independent investigator.
“Rule 27 isn’t just flawed; it’s being weaponized and mishandled,” said Representative Yunker. It’s time to reform this process, and it starts by holding the LEO accountable.”
The post Rep. Yunker: Audit of Legislative Equity Office first appeared on Oregon Catalyst.
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