Daniel Patterson leaves Democratic Party
Embattled state Rep. Daniel Patterson announced via Twitter and Facebook on Monday morning that he's leaving the Democratic Party. But the party has already essentially left him.
"I’m now the only Independent in #Arizona Legislature. I agree w millions that partisan politics have failed the public interest (sic)," Patterson tweeted.
Patterson is under investigation by a state House Ethics Committee over domestic violence allegations made by his ex-girlfriend/campaign manager. Those accusations that were later recanted, but not before every other member of the Democratic House caucus, except those on the Ethics Committee, signed a letter asking for the probe.
On March 12, the Democratic Committee in Patterson's district, LD 29, called on him to resign for "lack of decorum and professionalism."
Patterson had said the allegations that he struck and pushed Georgette Escobar were "blackmail."
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