Idaho
Trial begins for former Idaho lawmaker accused of rape
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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The trial for a former Idaho lawmaker accused of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern started Monday with attorneys asking potential jurors about their political leanings, their expertise with sexual assault circumstances and whether or not they noticed information tales in regards to the case.
Aaron von Ehlinger was charged with rape and penetration with a overseas object, each felonies, after a younger Statehouse staffer reported that he raped her at his house after the 2 had dinner at a Boise restaurant. On the time, von Ehlinger was a state consultant from Lewiston, however he later resigned after an ethics committee unanimously agreed that he engaged in “conduct unbecoming” and advisable that he be suspended with out pay for the remainder of the legislative session.
Von Ehlinger has pleaded not responsible to the costs, which carry most penalties of life in jail.
The Related Press typically doesn’t determine individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted, and has referred to the girl on this case as “Jane Doe” at her request.
A number of potential jurors have been excused after they stated they’d seen information protection in regards to the rape allegations and the ethics investigations the case spawned. Jane Doe confronted vital harassment from a few of von Ehlinger’s supporters after information of the allegations surfaced, with some weblog websites releasing her actual identify and private particulars about her life.
One other lawmaker, Rep. Priscilla Giddings of Whitebird, then broadly disseminated the previous intern’s identify in newsletters and on social media, sharing one of many blogs that initially recognized her.
One other juror was excused after he stated he did not understand how anybody may stay a member of the Republican Social gathering.
The jury of 12 individuals and one alternate was seated round midday. Opening arguments within the case have been anticipated to begin later that day.