The Arizona House of Representatives announced today that it would hire attorneys Craig A. Morgan and Sharon Ng of Kansas City-based firm Stinson Morrison Hecker to investigate an ethics complaint against Rep. Daniel Patterson, who is facing criminal charges of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend.

Rep. Daniel Patterson says he will vigorously contest a legislative ethics complaint stemming from domestic violence allegations but that he needs a reasonable amount of time to respond. Patterson says in a letter to the Ethics Committee's chairman that he's confident his name will be cleared.

As if there just hasn’t been enough scandal at the Arizona Legislature this year, political observers will get a fresh look this week at two salacious stories that will begin to further unfold.

House Speaker Andy Tobin has suspended the two committee assignments of Rep. Daniel Patterson, a Tucson Democrat facing an ethics complaint and related criminal charges accusing him of domestic violence.

In an effort to clear his name of allegations that he roughed up his ex-girlfriend and former campaign manager, Rep. Daniel Patterson turned over documents today alleging the woman has a criminal history involving drugs, domestic violence and theft, and was barred from practicing law in California.

As it prepares for a huge copper mine set to open near Superior in 2021, Resolution Copper Co. is urging state lawmakers to allow miners who work underground to be scheduled for shifts of up to 12 hours.

Rep. Daniel Patterson lashed out against his colleagues today, saying that he was the victim of a “lynch mob mentality” and that some members were going to “look very foolish” when the truth came out.

The Tucson Democrat said that he would not be “bullied” into stepping down or reconsidering his bid for re-election this fall, despite being dogged by accusations of domestic violence.

State Rep. Daniel Patterson is rejecting calls by Democratic legislative leaders and an Arizona Democratic Party official that the Tucson Democrat resign from the Legislature.

Democrats in the House and Senate are calling for one of their own to step down amid allegations of domestic violence.

Rep. Daniel Patterson’s former live-in girlfriend and campaign manager was granted an order of protection against him on Friday, liberal blog Three Sonorans reported yesterday.

Perhaps in an attempt to avoid another drawn-out saga like the one after former Sen. Scott Bundgaard was faced with similar allegations, House Democrats acted swiftly, calling on their colleague to resign.

A House committee approved Gov. Jan Brewer’s vaunted personnel plan, giving the bill its first step toward passage, despite the warnings of public sector unions and government workers who spent hours urging lawmakers not to eliminate their civil service protections.