Colorado lawmakers are set to censure Rep. Ryan Armagost, the House Republican whip, after he shared a photo of Democratic Rep. Yara Zokaie in a private group chat, where she faced derogatory comments regarding her attire. This decision was announced by Speaker Julie McCluskie during a Democratic caucus meeting on Thursday morning, as legislators reconvened for a special session to address a budget deficit.
The controversy erupted earlier this year when Armagost reportedly took a photo of Zokaie while on the House floor and shared it in a private chat. Members from the Republican caucus mocked her clothing, with one member making a particularly offensive comparison. The photo later appeared on social media, intensifying the harassment Zokaie experienced. She expressed that the situation resulted in “never-ending harassment,” describing the comments as “vile.”
In a troubling incident, Zokaie received a threatening message that included her children’s school address, indicating that the sender was aware of when students were released. She conveyed her concerns to Rose Pugliese, the House’s top Republican, who assured her that she would investigate the matter. Zokaie stated, “At the time she said that, she knew who it was,” referring to Armagost.
McCluskie condemned the actions as sexual harassment and emphasized the need for accountability. Following her announcement regarding the censure, Democratic lawmakers expressed their support with applause. Armagost was not present at the Capitol on the day of the announcement and did not respond to requests for comment from The Denver Post.
Earlier, in June, Armagost had announced his intention to resign from the legislature and relocate to Arizona, with his resignation effective on September 1.
Censure within the Colorado legislature is a serious action that requires a simple majority to pass. Given the Democratic majority, the censure resolution is expected to move forward. The resolution is set to be introduced on Thursday afternoon, with a vote planned for Friday.
This incident has drawn significant attention, particularly after the photo was shared in the group chat and subsequently on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. There, anonymous accounts continued to mock Zokaie, further compounding her distress.
Armagost held a key position as the chair of the House’s workplace harassment committee, which oversees complaints regarding legislative misconduct. Following this incident, he has been removed from that role but continues to serve on two other legislative committees.
Both McCluskie and Rep. Monica Duran, the Democratic majority leader, stated they had never encountered anything like this during their tenure in the Capitol. Duran remarked, “We want to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone ever again.”
As discussions continue, the Colorado political landscape remains tense as lawmakers grapple with this incident and its implications for workplace conduct and respect within the legislature.
