Call for Spokane Valley lawmaker's reinstatement continues to grow
PASCO — Franklin County Republicans joined the growing call Tuesday night, Feb. 4, to have Rep. Matt Shea reinstated to his previous party and committee statuses.
The embattled Shea, accused of being a domestic terrorist, was previously suspended from the Republican Party House Caucus by Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, .
Shea, R-Spokane Valley, was removed on a split vote by party leadership in the House. Republicans in Olympia, thus far, have declined to say who voted to oust Shea.
And those invited into a closed-door session in Yakima on Shea's suspension have been directed not to discuss it.
Shea has denied the accusations, stating that he's been denied due process by Democrats, similarly to the way President Trump was denied due process in the impeachment proceedings.
The U.S. Senate found President Trump not guilty of crimes warranting removal from office earlier today, Wednesday, Feb. 5.
The Franklin County Republican Central Committee resolution, signed by Chairman Clint Didier and more than two dozen others, demands Shea be reinstated.
“By the undersigned members of the Franklin County Republican Central Committee of Washington State that: The House Republican Caucus immediately reinstate Representative Matt Shea to his full and well-earned position and committee assignments in the State Legislature,” the resolution says.
It notes that Rep. Shea has not been charged with a crime and that “his choice to remain silent is not an admission of guilt.”
The resolution stops short of rebuking Rep. Wilcox personally, which resolutions in other counties have done.
Wilcox's move to suspend Rep. Shea has also generated a challenge for his legislative seat from Eatonville School Board member Matt Marshall.
And resolutions form Republicans in Cowlitz, Kitsap, Yakima, the 26th Legislative District and other areas of the state have chastised Rep. Wilcox for suspending Rep. Shea.
For his part, Shea has vowed to continue to work on behalf of his constituents despite being hamstrung by party leadership.
Shea has continued to broadcast live on social media from Olympia and has been center stage at the Capitol in the fight to protect citizens from infringement on the right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the state and federal constitutions.
And his constituents have noticed.
Shea's social media is filled with messages of praise for his efforts and a “I Stand With Matt Shea” page has been created. In addition, the door of his Capitol Building basement office — where he was moved to after being suspended by party leadership — has been covered by post-it notes encourage him to stand his ground.
And that's just what he intends to do.
“I will not back down, I will not give in,” Shea said prior to the start of the legislative session. “I will not resign.”
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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