The Maine House Ethics Committee will investigate Republican Representative Lucas Lanigan of Sanford, who is accused of domestic violence in a court case.
The House voted 74-69 Wednesday mostly along party lines to call for the investigation.
Lanigan is facing a domestic violence aggravated assault charge following an incident with his wife in October in which he is accused of choking her during an argument.
Lanigan denies the charge and his wife his wife claimed the incident was a misunderstanding during a court hearing. Lanigan is due back in court in March.
House Majority Leader Matt Moonen of Portland said a House panel should determine whether Lanigan meets the standards expected of a state lawmaker.
Top ranking Republicans, including Assistant Minority Leader Katrina Smith of Palermo, say the legislature is improperly overtaking the role of the courts and violating Lanigan’s right to due process.
Lanigan is serving his second term in the House District 141) following a one-vote win in November, which was determined after a recount.
The vote to call for an investigation came after House Speaker Ryan Fecteau removed Lanigan from his legislative committee assignment.
The order gives the ethics committee one month to complete its investigation.
