An embattled Tucson lawmaker facing expulsion will have no greater access to the House of Representatives than the reporters covering the sordid saga of Rep. Daniel Patterson.

But the leading Democrat in the House says that’s not good enough.

The top Democrat in the House of Representatives, who is leading the charge to have embattled Rep. Daniel Patterson ousted from office, is married to the sister of Patterson’s assistant – and he is seeking to have the woman removed from Patterson’s office out of fear for her safety.

The Arizona House has refused to immediately expel Rep. Daniel Patterson over allegations of inappropriate behavior toward other lawmakers but agreed to speed up the pending ethics case against the newly turned independent from Tucson.

Some lawmakers have begun bringing firearms to the state Capitol, citing a growing fear of Rep. Daniel Patterson, whose alleged hostile outbursts and erratic behavior were detailed in an investigative report on Monday.

House Minority Leader Chad Campbell says he may seek for the expulsion of Rep. Daniel Patterson as soon as Tuesday because some members of his caucus believe their lives are in danger as long as Patterson remains an elected official.

Investigators are recommending expulsion for Rep. Daniel Patterson, the Arizona lawmaker accused of beating up his ex-girlfriend, saying he violated ethical standards and that he likely committed numerous other crimes.

Rep. Daniel Patterson on Wednesday afternoon filed his formal response to the ethics investigation into allegations that he beat his ex-girlfriend, maintaining that the probe is warrantless and calling for the charges to be dropped.

Around the same time Patterson’s assistant turned the formal response over to the House Chief Clerk’s office, he had state police drive him to the airport so he could take a flight out of town.

A report by special investigators into the ethics charges against a Tucson Democrat accused of beating his ex-girlfriend will be delayed until at least Friday, but the investigation and future hearings are expected to continue after that.

The woman who last month accused a Tucson lawmaker of assaulting her now says her claims of violence were never true and is calling domestic violence charges and a legislative ethics inquest to be dropped.

TUCSON a�� A Tucson city magistrate has scheduled an April 26 hearing on whether a state lawmaker can postpone proceedings in his domestic violence case until after the legislative session ends.