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Arizona House launches sexual harassment investigations

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The Arizona House is investigating allegations of sexual harassment at the Legislature, including allegations from a Scottsdale lawmaker that another member of the chamber told her he wanted to have a romantic relationship with her.

Matthew Specht, a spokesman for the House Republican caucus, says the investigations announced Wednesday will examine harassment allegations made by Reps. Michelle Ugenti-Rita of Scottsdale and Kelly Townsend of Mesa.

The response to sexual harassment allegations against Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo social-media movement has spread to statehouses across the country.

Two weeks after Ugenti-Rita first made the allegations last month, the Arizona House issued a written harassment policy.

Under the policy, a House member experiencing harassment can report it to the chamber's attorney or the chiefs of staff from either party.