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A controversial Democratic Kansas state legislator was arrested for the second time in a month.
Aaron Coleman was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving while intoxicated by Kansas State Police, The Associated Press reported.
He was detained at the Douglas County Jail and later released after posting bond.
Coleman was out on bond for a previous arrest when he was arrested again over the weekend.
The Democrat was arrested on a domestic battery charge on October 30.
“At the time of the arrest, Coleman was already out on bond from an Oct. 30 domestic battery arrest. In that case, he allegedly pushed, hit and spit on his 18-year-old brother in a fight that erupted because the brother was going to get baptized, according to court documents,” the AP reported.
“The Kansas City, Kansas, Democrat has been embroiled in controversy since before he took office after being elected in 2020 and has acknowledged past abuses against girls and young women. A legislative committee reprimanded Coleman in writing in February over those abuses. Last month, Coleman also was banned from the Kansas Department of Labor’s offices over allegations of disruptive behavior. Coleman said he was trying to help constituents,” the report added.
Kansas state Rep. Aaron Coleman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence over the weekend, 4 weeks after he was arrested and charged with domestic battery, prompting lawmakers to renew calls for his resignation. https://t.co/nSg5ZZKl5q
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 30, 2021
Aaron Coleman, 21, was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of drunken driving, the Kansas Highway Patrol said.
The arrest has inspired several Kansas politicians to call for his resignation. https://t.co/N73S6hxKBb
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 29, 2021
NBC News reported:
He faced scrutiny during the election for making incendiary comments on social media and past abusive behavior toward girls in middle school. When he was running, he said the allegations that he engaged in online bullying, blackmail, and revenge porn were true, and he apologized for targeting several middle school girls. He said his past behavior was that of “a sick and troubled” 14-year-old.
In January, 13 Democrats filed a complaint in a bid to remove Coleman from office over his history of abusive behavior. A House committee, which determined that the allegations were true and that his conduct was “unfitting” for a lawmaker, issued a written warning.
Coleman was banned last month from state Labor Department property after he was accused of berating a police officer, the Kansas City Star reported.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said that if Coleman refuses to resign, the Legislature should remove him from office, saying his latest arrest “is further evidence that he is not fit to serve in the Kansas House of Representatives.”
“Mr. Coleman’s most recent arrest is further evidence that he is not fit to serve in the Kansas House of Representatives and that his continued presence in the Legislature is a disservice to his constituents,” Kelly said in a statement. “He should resign immediately and seek the treatment that he needs. If he does not resign, the Legislature should use its process to remove him from office.”
House Democratic leader Tom Sawyer also urged Coleman to resign and seek help, saying: “The stress of the legislature is not a healthy environment for someone in this mental state.”
