Skip linksSkip to Content
blinking-dotLive updatesLive updates,
Iran attacks US military base in Qatar
British Caribbean News
Seattle star catcher Cal Raleigh, 28, hit his major league-leading 32nd home run in the ninth inning of the Mariners’ 11-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night, just a few hours after being chosen the American League player of the week.
The Legislature’s Committee on Ethical Conduct is moving forward with a formal hearing in its ongoing investigation of Senator At-Large Angel L. Bolques Jr., following months of internal review and the recent delivery of a formal statement of alleged violations.
The inquiry stems from a complaint submitted in March by a legislative staffer, which prompted the committee to initiate proceedings under Rule 810 of the Legislature’s ethics code. The complaint outlined not only allegations of harassment, but also claims of financial mismanagement, including alleged “questionable payroll practices” and concerns about the misuse of taxpayer-funded resources. The complaint also described what was characterized as a hostile work environment.
On May 30, after reviewing testimony from current and former staff and examining internal records, the committee issued an advisory opinion to Senate President Milton E. Potter. The opinion, based on a “preponderance of the evidence,” determined that a formal hearing was warranted, according to continued updates from the committee.
Two weeks later, on June 17, the committee issued a Statement of Alleged Violations to Bolques, formally detailing the issues under review. Under legislative rules, Bolques has 20 days to respond in writing—placing the deadline on or around July 7.
Once his response is received, the Committee will set a date for the hearing. Depending on the outcome, the matter may then be forwarded to the full body of the Legislature for a final determination, at which time a formal charging document will be issued, according to Senate Senate Vice President Kenneth Gittens, who chairs the Committee on Ethical Conduct.
In a call with the Source Monday night, Gittens outlined the process, saying that it’s lengthy to ensure that all sides are vetted, with fair outcomes and decisions made.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that all parties are treated fairly, while also maintaining the integrity of this institution,” he said. “This is not something we take lightly,” voicing his concern about having to investigate a colleague.
“This does not feel good,” Gittens added. “With all of the myriad issues we have to tackle, you prefer to be working together to address the needs of the community, rather than having to do this. The public deserves to have confidence that elected officials are held to the highest ethical standards. We are approaching this with the seriousness it demands, and we will follow the facts wherever they lead.”
This is not the first time Bolques’s Senate seat has been tied to an ethics controversy. He was appointed in July 2022 to replace former Senator-At-Large Steven Payne Sr., who was removed following an ethics investigation into sexual harassment. That context has intensified public scrutiny of the current case.
In its most recent public statement Monday, the committee reaffirmed its goal of maintaining a workplace free from harassment, coercion, and abuse of authority, and said it remains committed to conducting the investigation with transparency and integrity.
