CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming Senator Anthony Bouchard was stripped of his committee assignments Thursday, March 10 for a “continued pattern of intimidating and other disorderly conduct.”
Senate President Dan Dockstader said Bouchard had shown “support for vulgar and threatening attacks on a member of this Senate,” filmed members of the public as a threat, and intimidated members of the Senate and public.
“All this impugns the integrity of the legislative body and leads to a lack of respect for the Senate and the House,” Dockstader said, reading accusations against Bouchard.
In his own defense, Bouchard said the video in question, which is still on Bouchard’s social media channels, was meant to raise awareness about “COVID fear tactics” used by “hospital lobbyists.”
“I don’t know why people are afraid of things that are already online,” he said. “It’s gonna go online. I don’t think we understand free speech in this chamber if this is where we’re at right now.”
Debate on the Senate floor was largely in Bouchard’s defense, but the Senate voted 19-10 to strip Bouchard of his assignments.
Bouchard is one of three candidates running against Rep. Liz Cheney in the GOP primary. He made headlines last spring, not for his campaign but for an admission that he impregnated a 14-year-old girl when he was 18 and living in Florida.
