In this file photo from April 5, 2017, Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, stands to speak in the House chambers against a bill establishing October 25 of each year as African American Soldiers’ Contribution to Building the Alaska Highway Day. The bill passed 39-1 with Rep. Eastman casting the only no vote. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

In this file photo from April 5, 2017, Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, stands to speak in the House chambers against a bill establishing October 25 of each year as African American Soldiers’ Contribution to Building the Alaska Highway Day. The bill passed 39-1 with Rep. Eastman casting the only no vote. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Ruling: Alaska lawmaker violated ethics laws by disclosing complaint to press

• Subcommittee finds Rep. David Eastman leaked confidential complaint to reporter • Eastman already faced sanction

Update: This article has been updated with a comment from Rep. Eastman.

The ethics subcommittee of the Alaska House of Representatives ruled Thursday that Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, violated state law by leaking the existence of a confidential ethics complaint to the press.

In a decision released Thursday morning, members of the subcommittee found “by clear and convincing evidence” that Eastman violated Alaska statutes when he alerted an Alaska Journal of Commerce reporter to the complaint in 2017.

“The ethics committee takes the confidentiality provisions very seriously,” said Jerry Anderson, administrator of the Legislature’s select committee on ethics.

The decision does not propose any additional penalties for Eastman, who was stripped of his membership in the Legislature’s ethics committee in January after the subcommittee found probable cause of a civil violation.

“Basically, the House subcommittee did not pose any additional sanctions, since that had already occurred,” Anderson said. Violations of the Legislative Ethics Act by sitting lawmakers are subject to punishment approved by the Legislature.

In April 2017, Eastman told reporter Naomi Klouda that an ethics complaint had been filed against Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, and that Klouda should check with the ethics office.

Under the rules governing the process, ethics complaints are supposed to be confidential.

When Eastman was contacted by an internal investigator in September 2017, he was asked whether he could have told Klouda to call the ethics office about an alleged complaint.

“I suppose it’s possible, but I guess — yeah, I’m trying to figure out why I would have said something like that. I can’t make any sense out of that,” Eastman said, according to the text of the ruling.

The Journal provided phone records backing Klouda’s assertion that she talked with Eastman, then the ethics office, and the subcommittee “determined that Naomi Klouda appeared to have no motive or reason to provide false information.”

According to the Associated Press, a complaint against LeDoux was dismissed for lack of merit. Details of that complaint remain confidential.

LeDoux declined to talk about Thursday’s ruling when reached by cellphone.

Eastman had challenged January’s probable cause determination, and in a daylong hearing on Tuesday, members of the subcommittee heard evidence for and against the charges, including Eastman’s explicit denial that he shared confidential information.

“Obviously, we’re pleased the committee recognized that Naomi had done her job and been consistent all along,” said Journal of Commerce Editor Andrew Jensen by phone. “Despite the fact that Eastman’s lawyer attacked her credibility quite aggressively, we’re happy the committee did see through that.”

Eastman was one of 18 Republicans in the Alaska House’s minority caucus this past session. House Minority Leader Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, told the Empire, “The process was thorough and fair. I respect the decision by our ethics committee.”

Eastman did not answer a phone message seeking comment Thursday morning but responded by email in the afternoon. He reaffirmed his denial that he violated the law and said the ethics committee “has become a political weapon used for partisan attacks on legislators.”

“Not only did I not violate confidentiality, I could not have done so even if I had wanted to, because I had no way of gaining access to confidential information at the time that the leak took place. This information is all now available to the public for everyone to see. When Alaskans talk about draining the swamp in Juneau, the ethics committee should be one of the first places they start,” he wrote.


• Contact reporter James Brooks at jbrooks@juneauempire.com or 523-2258.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Nov. 3

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Christopher Moore helps another Juneau homeless resident wheel her belongings from a makeshift campsite on private property near the airport on July 15. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
‘Dispersed camping’ worked better overall than homeless campground, Assembly members told

Scattered camping sites in Juneau less troublesome than fixed site last year, deputy city manager says.

Lemon Creek voters enter the Alaska Electric Light Power building as polls open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau voters keep turning out in large numbers as Election Day arrives

“It’s bigger than I’ve ever seen here before,” longtime precinct chair at one voting location says.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A long line of voters waits Monday at an early voting station at the Mendenhall Mall annex. Voting locations around Juneau will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Election Day in Alaska: When to expect results, and what to look for

First results should be posted online about 9:15 p.m., based on prior schedules.

Voters at Anchorage City Hall wait in line to cast their ballots on Monday, the day before Election Day. City hall, in downtown Anchorage, was one of the designated early voting sites in the state’s largest city; however, it is not an Election Day polling site. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
How to vote in Alaska: Options abound, but the deadline is almost here

In-person, mail, electronic and fax voting still possible on Election Day.

The Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump, appears on stage with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., center, and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders during a campaign rally at the J.S. Dorton Arena on Nov. 4, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
‘Election Day is not results day’: Get ready for a wait to find out who’s president

Some Alaska results may not be known until 15 days after Election Day.

A voter talks to election officials at a early voting station at the State Office Building on Monday. Alaskans, like the rest of the U.S., are casting early ballots at a record pace ahead of Tuesday’s election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
In longshot scenario of Electoral College tie, winner of Alaska’s House race may pick the next president

By-state vote in House means Peltola or Begich could determine winner; Murkowski’s vote could pick VP.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read