Aaron von Ehlinger

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Aaron von Ehlinger
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
from the 6th district
In office
June 3, 2020 – April 29, 2021
Preceded byThyra Stevenson
Succeeded byLori McCann
Personal details
Born
Aaron Anson Ehlinger

(1982-05-07) May 7, 1982 (age 39)
Orofino, Idaho, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Alabama (BA)
Military service
Branch/service United States Army
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan

Aaron von Ehlinger (born May 7, 1982) is an American Republican politician who served as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives from the 6th district. He was appointed to the House by Governor Brad Little on June 3, 2020, and resigned on April 29, 2021.

Early life and education[]

Von Ehlinger was born and raised in Orofino, Idaho. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Alabama.[1][2]

Career[]

Von Ehlinger served in the United States Army, where he was deployed to Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks. After leaving the Army, von Ehlinger has worked as a substitute teacher and real estate developer. He was appointed to the Idaho House of Representatives by Governor Brad Little on June 3, 2020, filling the seat left vacant after the death of Thyra Stevenson.[1]

Allegations of sexual misconduct[]

In April 2021, von Ehlinger was accused of "unconsented sexual contact" with a legislative volunteer.[3] Von Ehlinger denies the allegations and maintains the encounter was consensual.[4] The Idaho House Ethics Committee and Boise Police Department later began investigations into the allegations.[5][6] It was later reported that documents from Legislature's Ethics Committee previously warned von Ehlinger against hitting on female statehouse employees after his colleagues received complaints from other staffers.[7][4]

After the House Ethics Committee voted unanimously to recommend that von Ehlinger be expelled from the House, he resigned from his position on April 29, 2021.[8][9]

On September 25, 2021, von Ehlinger was arrested in Atlanta after returning to the U.S. from Central America, where he had been since May 2021.[10][11] On October 8, 2021, von Ehlinger was arrested on felony charges of rape and forcible penetration after being extradited to Idaho and booked into the Ada County Jail. He was released the same day.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger". Idaho State Legislature. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  2. ^ Spence, William L. (January 30, 2021). "Idaho Rep. von Ehlinger pardoned for past misdemeanors". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Russell, Betsy (April 16, 2021). "LewTrib: Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger accused of 'unconsented sexual contact' with adult volunteer". The Idaho Press-Tribune. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Boone, Rebecca (April 27, 2021). "Idaho lawmaker accused of rape was warned about his behavior". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  5. ^ Dawson, James (April 16, 2021). "Idaho State Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger Under Ethics Investigation For Alleged Sexual Misconduct". Boise State Public Radio. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  6. ^ Norimine, Hayat (April 23, 2021). "Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger Sexual Misconduct Allegations Being Investigated by Boise Police". Big Country News. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Shepherd, Katie (April 28, 2021). "An intern accused an Idaho Republican of rape. He was warned before about his behavior toward women". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  8. ^ Terhune, Katie (April 29, 2021). "Idaho lawmaker accused of rape resigns after ethics committee backs expulsion". KTVB. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  9. ^ Haroun, Azmi (April 29, 2021). "Idaho state Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger has resigned amid rape allegations". Business Insider. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "Aaron Von Ehlinger was arrested in Central America". CBS2 News. September 30, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  11. ^ Dawson, James (October 8, 2021). "Former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger is back in Idaho after extradition from Georgia". Boise State Public Radio. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  12. ^ "Former Idaho Rep. von Ehlinger released from Ada County Jail hours after being booked". KTVB. October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
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