Texas State Rep. Bryan Slaton Resigns Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Screenshot from video on social media page of State Representative Bryan Slaton (R-Texas) where he presents Amendment 1 to House Bill 567 on April 1, 2021, which would ensure that Child Protective Services cannot remove a child from a parent due to the parent not supporting genital mutilation surgery. (With permission from Representative Bryan Slaton)

Texas state Rep. Bryan Slaton resigned as a member of the Legislature on Sunday following allegations of sexual misconduct.

In his resignation letter, Slaton, a Republican, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to represent his community but said that his resignation was necessary to ensure his constituents’ expectations are met by a new representative.

“This is to inform the people of my legislative district, The Governor of the State of Texas, and the House of Representatives, that I hereby resign my position as a member of the legislature effective immediately,” Slaton wrote.

“It has been an honor to represent my friends, neighbors and the great people and communities of House District 2. They voted overwhelmingly to send me to the Capitol as their representative in two elections, and I worked daily to meet their expectations. My decision today is to ensure that their expectations will continue to be met by a new representative who will also work hard on their behalf,” he wrote.

Slaton’s resignation comes after he was accused by an investigative committee of giving alcohol to female staffers under the age of 21 on the night of March 31 and into the morning of April 1. According to a report into the allegations, Slaton also had sex with a 19-year-old female staffer from his own office, referred to by a pseudonym.

The staffer told the investigator that she consumed “a lot of alcohol” and felt “pretty rough,” “really dizzy,” and had “split vision” that night. She later described the situation as “inappropriate,” according to the report (pdf).

The report also claimed that the staffer felt “intimidated and threatened” to, in her words, “stay quiet” along with her friends.

The Republican lawmaker resigned before he was expected to face a resolution to expel him that would have been introduced on May 9 by Republican Rep. Andrew Murr, chairman of the Committee on General Investigating.

Investigation and Claims

The investigative committee unanimously decided to expel Slaton after receiving the report from Catherine Evans, a former judge and lawyer in private practice.

Murr appeared emotional at times when delivering a statement from the committee on the state House floor on Monday. He said the committee held a hearing with Slaton on May 4 after which they provided their report.

“We conducted the hearing and provided Rep. Slaton the opportunity to provide the committee with any exculpatory evidence and information, including arguments of counsel, that he and his attorney deemed appropriate,” Murr said on the House floor.

“Those facts and findings are undisputed and uncontroverted and are supported by independent and credible evidence,” he continued. “This morning the committee unanimously adopted the committee report, which in accordance with the committee’s rules, contains findings of fact and conclusions of law and a recommendation for discipline.”

The committee’s report (pdf) would be distributed to members on Monday before being released online.

“We find that Rep. Slaton has engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a subordinate. That behavior was induced by alcohol that Rep. Slaton provided to that 19-year-old subordinate,” Murr said. “Rep. Slaton then acted systematically to influence that subordinate and multiple witnesses and obstruct the investigation into the matter to the detriment of our chamber and those who work here.”

The committee unanimously recommended that Slaton’s expulsion was the “only appropriate discipline in this matter,” according to the report.

“The expulsion of a fellow member is a level of punishment we don’t take lightly. It is not meant to punish the member. Rather, it is intended to protect the integrity and dignity of this legislative body and to provide accountability to everyone that works and serves in this building,” Murr said.

‘Outrageous Allegations’

Slaton’s attorney, Patrick Short, previously denied the allegations on April 10, calling them outrageous and false.

“We are aware of outrageous allegations circulating online by second-tier media that make false claims against Rep. Slaton,” said Short. “As a result, he has been advised to forward all inquiries in this matter—including any that may relate to a possible complaint—to his legal counsel.”

Slaton’s allies in the House may have turned against him. According to the report, a fellow Republicans urged him to resign.

“Representative #2 stated that when he next saw Slaton on the floor that he told Slaton that ‘it’s bad for everyone. I think you should resign,’” the report states. The report claims that representative later contacted the investigative committee to inform them of the allegations against Slaton.

On Sunday, the Texas House Freedom Caucus, a conservative group typically aligned with Slaton, called on Slaton to resign in a statement.

“The factual report from the House General Investigations Committee regarding Rep. Bryan Slaton is appalling. The abhorrent behavior described in the report requires clear and strong action. He should resign. If he does not, we will vote to expel him Tuesday,” the group wrote on Twitter.

Slaton was elected to the Legislature in 2020 and was serving his second term representing Hopkins, Hunt, and Van Zandt counties in East Texas.