Arizona's GOP-led House expels a Republican lawmaker

Arizona lawmakers on Wednesday voted to expel a Republican member who invited a speaker to make criminal allegations against elected officials before a committee.

The Republican-majority state House voted 46-13 to remove state Rep. Liz Harris, R, over the invitation of Jacqueline Breger, who gave a presentation that included allegations of money laundering, corruption, drug trafficking, and other alleged wrongdoings by elected officials, The Hill reported.

"This is a sad day for our institution. But it is a necessary day," said House Democratic leader Andres Cano, per the outlet. "There has been real damage done to the lives and reputations of people who did not deserve it. More importantly, the integrity of this House has been jeopardized."

Harris denied knowing that Breger would make the allegations beforehand, though the chamber's Ethics Committee determined she was aware of the allegations ahead of time.

"She lied about her role in this effort to mainstream a conspiracy that a federal judge had already labeled as 'delusional,'" Cano added. 

Republican House Speaker Ben Toma called Harris's invitation "irresponsible" and said she showed "bad judgement" in inviting Breger.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.