AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) A Republican lawmaker says a Democratic representative facing calls from his own party to resign following a magazine report deserves a hearing.
Rep. Paula Sutton says Democratic House Speaker Sara Gideon must convene the House Ethics Committee to investigate allegations made by an anonymous source in a monthly magazine that Democratic Rep. Dillon Bates, of Westbrook, had romantic relationships with her and other students as a teacher and coach at a now-shuttered all-girls high school. Gideon didn’t immediately respond Thursday.
Gideon and Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett called on Bates to resign.
Bates’ lawyer says his client denies the allegations in “The Bollard” and won’t step down. Bates hasn’t been charged with any crime.
