Missoula, MT – The Senate Ethics Committee convened Monday to outline its investigation into Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, following concerns about his handling of a state contract. The investigation stems from a $170,000 agreement that Ellsworth, who served as the Senate president until this year, signed with a former business associate. The contract tasked the associate with analyzing judicial reform bills under consideration in the 2025 legislative session.
An initial report by the Legislative Audit Division raised serious concerns, stating that the contract did not follow proper procedures and amounted to “abuse and waste” of state resources. In response, Ellsworth has defended his actions, arguing that the contract was legitimate.
During the meeting, the committee, composed of two Republicans and two Democrats, set a timeline for the investigation. They granted Ellsworth’s attorney, Joan Mell, four days to prepare a formal response to the allegations. Additionally, the committee began requesting documents and witnesses, including Ellsworth’s business associate, staff from the Audit Division, Legislative Services Division, and Montana Department of Administration, as well as four lawmakers, including Senate President Matt Regier.
The committee’s initial plan is to hold a three-day hearing from Wednesday, February 12, to Friday, February 14. They intend to deliberate on their findings the following Monday and Tuesday, February 17 and 18.
Mell expressed concerns about the timeline and process during the meeting. She argued that the committee had not given her enough time to prepare and accused the investigation of lacking transparency. “It is inherently a violation of due process to expect that we would proceed on a substantive merits hearing when I’ve been given nothing,” she said, questioning whether she would have enough time to review all relevant information.
Adam Duerk, an attorney from Missoula appointed as special counsel to the committee by Senate President Regier, acknowledged Mell’s concerns but assured that the committee would work with her to address procedural questions. He emphasized, however, that the investigation would differ from a standard legal proceeding. “This is not a typical trial with a jury, a prosecutor, a judge,” Duerk stated. “This is a species of that process that will afford due process and constitutional rights to Sen. Ellsworth.”
The committee is scheduled to meet again on Friday to further discuss the proposed rules for the investigation.
