Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Senate this afternoon voted 20-10 to suspendSenator Norman HMcAllister (R-Franklin). McAllister has denied thefelony sexual assualt charges against him. The suspension would terminate if he is found not guilty or the charges are dismissed. A trial could start as early as February but will likely not start before March. This is believed to be the first time the Legislature has taken such action. Franklin County and the Senate as a whole will be down one senator. The vote was not partisan. According to vtdigger.org, McAllister himself voted against the suspension.According to the Burlington Free Press, he immediately left the Chamber.
LieutenantGovernor Phil Scott, a Republican running for governor this year, issued the following statement about the Vermont Senate’s voteWednesdayto suspend McAllister:
“Today the Vermont Senate, for the first time in history, suspended one of its own members - Senator Norman McAllister of Franklin County. It is unfortunate the Senate was forced to take such action in this unprecedented situation, as it is my belief Senator McAllister should have resigned before now. Senator McAllister is charged with serious criminal offenses, and from my standpoint, if it were a law enforcement officer or teacher accused of crimes of this magnitude they would be placed on administrative leave. This action allowed the Senate to govern its own member without getting involved in the criminal case, which could have been seen as influencing the case itself. It is now my hope the Vermont Senate can return to the issues at hand and work towards making Vermont a more prosperous state for families and businesses by concentrating on the fiscal fundamentals and growth of the economy.”
Scott, who votes in the Senate only in case of a tie, had previously urged McAllister to resign.
VtDigger:SENATE VOTES TO SUSPEND MCALLISTER