An Alaska state senator is in hot water after the largest newspaper in the state’s editor accused him of hitting one of the paper’s reporters the other day. According to multiple outlets, Alaska Dispatch reporter Nathaniel Herz was asking Republican state Sen. David Wilson’s (R-Wasilla) opinion on an article he had written that concerned state Sen. Wilson, in the hallway of the state capitol, when the state senator slapped him in the face.
Herz recently reported on a bill from Wilson, a Wasilla Republican, that would strip funding from nonprofits in Wilson's area. However, Wilson's former employer would not have been impacted by the bill. Wilson declined to comment at the time.
The alleged slap occurred Tuesday after Herz spotted Wilson at the Capitol and asked him if the story was reasonable and fair.
According to an audio recording that Herz provided the newspaper, Wilson repeated the words reasonable and fair, in response to Herz. Then there was an exhale and what sounds like an impact, followed by Wilson's voice saying, "There we go."
Herz reported the incident to the authorities and an investigation has been opened into these alleged events. The good news from Republican state Sen. Wilson is that he can’t get charged just yet.
Wilson declined to comment when contacted by KTUU, but if the incident happened as the reporter alleges, the senator could face a misdemeanor assault charge. However, that could not happen until the Legislature adjourns because of a provision in the Alaska Constitution.
What was the story that allegedly got under state Rep. Wilson’s skin?
In the Alaska Dispatch News story, Nat Herz detailed how Sen. David Wilson's Senate Bill 90 would eliminate a state program that distributed nearly $1.5 million in cash grants for nonprofits to provide services to people with disabilities, to pay for a case manager at a youth homeless shelter, and to deliver meals to seniors.
Many of the state dollars flow into the Wasilla Republican's district.
That’s just some classic Republican stuff. Anything else?
The story mentioned Wilson's employer prior to his election, Palmer-based nonprofit Alaska Family Services, wouldn't be among those potentially hurt by the cuts.
Wilson declined to give an explanation for proposing the bill, saying that one would come up in a hearing and "the bill should stand for itself."
Corrupt much? State Rep. Wilson is a part of the classically Republican-led Senate majority caucus.
Wilson, who was elected last fall, is part of the Republican-led Senate majority caucus. The caucus released a statement saying the Senate "expects professional conduct and decorum from all members. Until all the facts surrounding the situation described are available, we have no further comment."
State Sen. Wilson joins fellow Wasilla Republican David Eastman in being a ginormous blight upon society.