Alaska lawmaker accused of hitting woman resigns from office
JUNEAU, Alaska — An Alaska lawmaker is resigning after being accused of hitting a woman during a night of drinking last month, the second House Democrat and rural Alaska representative to leave office under a cloud in recent months.
The resignation of first-term state Rep. Zach Fansler of Bethel was announced on the House floor Friday and will be effective Feb. 12.
Fansler faced pressure to resign from House leaders for nearly a week, following a Juneau Empire report last Saturday that a woman had accused him of slapping her hard enough to rupture an eardrum shortly before the legislative session began last month.
Fansler’s attorney, Wally Tetlow, told The Associated Press on Friday that Fansler is innocent of the allegations against him. He said they are co-operating with the investigation and have been in communication with the district attorney’s office. No charges have been filed. Tetlow referred to initial reporting on the matter as “extremely misleading.”