A Republican Tulsa legislator accused of sexual harassment by two former legislative assistants has been suspended of his chairmanship of a House committee.
New House Speaker Charles McCall announced Tuesday he was suspending Tulsa Rep. Dan Kirby's chairmanship of the House Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee after Kirby refused to testify before a committee investigating the allegations.
Kirby says he has serious concerns about the secretive nature of the panel, which is meeting behind closed doors to investigate allegations of sexual harassment against him and another legislator.
McCall says the suspension will last at least until the investigative committee releases its findings and recommendations. The panel's final report is expected to be released before the start of the legislative session on February 6.
Kirby has denied the sexual harassment allegations and says he was unaware that the former House speaker used government funds to settle a wrongful-termination claim filed by one of his accusers.
