House panel to consider ethics complaints against Reps. Engen, Hudson and Falconer

The House Ethics Committee adopted procedures for handling ethics complaints filed against three members and set probable cause hearings for 10 a.m. Friday.

A complaint against Rep. Elliott Engen (R-Lino Lakes) and Rep. Walter Hudson (R-Albertville) charges them with “leaving in the middle of their appointed committees to go drinking instead”; a complaint against Rep. Alex Falconer (DFL-Eden Prairie) relates to outside employment. 

Under the rules, the four-member bipartisan panel — there are also two alternates — must determine whether credible evidence shows a complaint is more likely true than not. If so, the committee will hold a final hearing to consider disciplinary action.

A majority of the committee may recommend one of three sanctions, listed by severity:
• expulsion, which requires a two-thirds vote of the full House;
• censure, a formal condemnation approved by a House majority; or
• reprimand, which also requires a majority vote of the House.

The committee may also conclude the conduct amounts to a minor violation not warranting formal discipline. In cases of a violation deemed to be “inadvertent, technical or of a de minimis nature,” it may seek voluntary remedial steps or clarify applicable rules and caution the members to follow them.

Only members may file ethics complaints under House Rules.