Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) – The House Subcommittee of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics adopted a public decision on Nov. 29, 2023, regarding Complaint H 22-01 and H 22-02 filed against former Representative Christopher Kurka and Representative David Eastman.
The complaint alleged that former Representative Kurka and Representative Eastman, allowed an “unregistered lobbyist” for Alaska Right to Life to use their offices as a “base of operations” for distributing petitions throughout the Capitol.
It was unknown whether state resources, such as computers or telephones, were used for this activity.
These activities would be a violation of AS 24.06.030(a)(2).
Once a complaint is filed with the Ethics Committee, under AS 24.60.170 the ethics committee has the duty to investigate.
Former Representative Kurka waived confidentiality of the complaint process on Jun. 26, 2022. Representative Eastman waived confidentiality of the complaint process on May 4, 2022. The complainant did not waive confidentiality.
The House Subcommittee met on Nov. 29, 2023, and found that the specific allegations outlined in the complaint, if proven true, do not give rise to a violation of the Legislative Ethics Act AS 24.60.
The House Subcommittee dismissed both complaints pursuant to AS 24.60.170(f).’
Complaint Decision H 22-01 and H 22-02 will be posted online.
