OLYMPIA — A Republican-dominated coalition in the state Senate is pursuing a leak investigation and declining to turn over documents related to a controversial state lawmaker.
Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom said Wednesday that the chambers facilities and operations committee will investigate how The Associated Press obtained documents that describe complaints against GOP Sen. Pam Roach. Tom said he also opposes the public release of other documents related to complaints against Roach, saying the chamber needs to handle such personnel matters in confidentiality.
Other officials in the state Senate had been working to release those files in response to public records requests from The Associated Press and The Seattle Times.
The leak investigation announcement comes a day after a committee voted to lift sanctions against Roach that had been levied against her after allegations that she mistreated Senate staff members.
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