Arizona HR 2005: Leezah Sun; expulsion

Bill Text

HR2005 - 562R - I Ver 

 REFERENCE TITLE: Leezah Sun; expulsion

 State of Arizona

 House of Representatives

 Fifty-sixth Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2024

 HR 2005

 Introduced by 

 Representative 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A Resolution

expelling 
representative leezah sun from the Arizona house of representatives. 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Whereas, on December 14, 2022, then Representative-elect Leezah 
Sun had a meeting with the Superintendent of the Littleton Elementary School 
District, Dr. Roger Freeman. At that meeting, Representative Sun asked Dr. 
Freeman if he was familiar with S.B. 1487, which is codified in state law.� Representative 
Sun stated that it allowed her to have anyone investigated for any reason.� Dr. 
Freeman interpreted her explanation as a threat to either himself or to the 
district and was so alarmed by her threat that he contacted others in the 
school district; and

Whereas, on May 31, 2023, Representative Sun attended a meeting 
at the Tolleson Civic Center with three city employees, Reyes Medrano, Tolleson 
City Manager, Pilar Sinawi, Tolleson Chief Government Affairs Officer and 
Alicia Guzman, Tolleson Government Affairs Support Specialist (collectively 
"Tolleson employees").� At that meeting, Representative Sun became 
agitated and used offensive language and displayed abusive and aggressive 
behavior towards the Tolleson employees, which led to them contacting the 
Tolleson Police Department and filing an incident report; and 

Whereas, on June 16, 2023, Representative Sun interfered in the 
lawful transfer of children from the custody of one parent to another.� While 
speaking with the court-appointed supervisor who was trying to facilitate 
the custodial transfer, Representative Sun identified herself as a state 
representative and directed the supervisor to let the children stay with their 
stepfather.� Representative Sun's behavior undermined and obstructed the 
judicial process, and her actions and comments were perceived by the court-appointed 
supervisor as hostile, threatening and intimidating; and

Whereas, on August 30, 2023, Representative Sun attended the 
League of Arizona Cities and Towns conference in Tucson, Arizona. At 
that conference, she had a meeting with two lobbyists and their client 
regarding a potential opportunity for the City of Tolleson.� One of the 
lobbyists requested that Representative Sun introduce her to Tolleson's mayor 
or director of intergovernmental affairs. In response, Representative Sun 
indicated that the referenced city employee is Pilar Sinawi and that if she saw 
Ms. Sinawi, she would bitch-slap her, throw her over the balcony and kill 
her. This statement was very alarming to those who heard it; and

Whereas, the lobbyist later provided a statement to the 
Tolleson Police Department regarding the threat made by Representative Sun.� 
Ms. Sinawi contacted the Tolleson Police Department regarding Representative 
Sun's threats, and an incident report was prepared that detailed the events at 
the conference; and

Whereas, on October 18, 2023, the Tolleson employees filed a 
petition for workplace injunction against Representative Sun.� The Superior 
Court in Maricopa County granted the petition and entered an order on October 
18, 2023 against Representative Sun, which prohibits her from contacting the 
Tolleson employees and going to or near the Tolleson Civic 
Center. The order found that Representative Sun is a credible threat 
to the physical safety of the Tolleson employees and is prohibited from 
possessing, receiving or purchasing firearms for the duration of the order; and

Whereas, on November 2, 2023, Representatives Lupe Contreras, 
Oscar De Los Santos, Melody Hernandez and Nancy Gutierrez filed a complaint 
against Representative Sun regarding her behavior towards the Tolleson 
employees and during the child custody transfer interference. The 
complaint noted that Representative Sun's behavior established a pattern that 
reflected poorly on Representative Sun as well as on the Arizona House of 
Representative as an institution.� The complaint requested that the Arizona 
House of Representative Committee on Ethics ("Ethics Committee") 
investigate Representative Sun's actions; and 

Whereas, on December 19, 2023, the Ethics Committee held the 
first evidentiary hearing at which various relevant exhibits and the testimony 
of witnesses and Representative Sun were considered; and 

Whereas, on January 9, 2023, the Littleton Elementary School 
Board held a public hearing and Representative Sun spoke to the public during 
the call. During her testimony before the school board, Representative Sun 
specifically expressed her displeasure at Dr. Freeman's participation in this 
House Ethics matter; and 

Whereas, on January 25, 2024, the Ethics Committee held a 
second evidentiary hearing at which additional exhibits and testimony of 
witnesses and Representative Sun were considered; and

Whereas,