Accused of having sex with intern, lawmaker resigns

Plus: A show of military might at the border.

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View in browser Get Unlimited Digital Access for 25¢! Support local, independent journalism. Subscribe Today. Pushed out of the Texas House It didn't take long for a North Texas Republican to resign from the Texas Legislature amid allegations that he had sex with one intern and provided alcohol to her and other underage interns. Less than 48 hours after a state report first made the charges public, Rep. Bryan Slaton announced Monday he was resigning but offered no apologies. Reporter Taylor Goldenstein reports the Rockwall County Republican, who was first elected in 2020, did not respond to the report's findings in his resignation letter. "I look forward to spending more time with my young family, and will continue to find ways to serve my community and all citizens across our great state," he wrote. The investigation into Slaton showed how he "engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a subordinate" and "acted systematically to influence that subordinate and multiple witnesses and obstruct the investigation into the matter," said state Rep. Andrew Murr, a Junction Republican, who chairs the committee that led the investigation. Murr on Saturday announced the committee would seek to expel Slaton before he announced his resignation.   Jeremy Wallace Texas politics reporter jeremy.wallace@houstonchronicle.com Who's up, who's down   Up: Ron Nirenberg. The San Antonio mayor won reelection convincingly on Saturday, securing a 4th term and setting him up to tie Henry Cisneros as the longest-serving mayor. Down: Bryan Slaton. Every page of the report released on Saturday about his alleged actions with interns is disturbing. What do you think? Hit reply and let me know.    What else is going on in Texas   Texas House advances bill raising age for AR-15 rifle purchases The vote marks lawmakers' biggest step yet to implement new gun safety measures after the mass shooting at a Uvalde elementary school.   LGBTQ protester charged with assault says his hat brushed trooper Evan Wienck says he's worried his detainment last week during protests at the state Capitol will "disenfranchise" others hoping to speak out against anti-trans legislation.   Uvalde families blast Texas GOP after two more mass shootings ​​"They don't have any answers to this," said Manuel Rizo, who lost his 9-year-old niece, Jacklyn "Jackie" Cazares, in last year's mass shooting at a Uvalde elementary school.    Wide-ranging city charter amendment fails to pass in San Antonio About 72 percent of voters rejected the wide-ranging measure that touched on abortion, marijuana and policing.   Kickapoo Indians say Texas gambling bill threatens their casino Native American tribal leaders who operate the state's largest casino warn they would lose most of their customers and face possible bankruptcy under the leading plan to bring Vegas-style resorts to the state.   Pick of the day   Days after President Joe Biden announced that he would send additional troops to the U.S. border, Gov. Greg Abbott responded by staging his own show of military force. At a press conference in Austin, Abbott touted specialized troops sent to the border in advance of an expected surge in crossings this week as Title 42 is set to expire.   What else I'm reading   The Laredo Morning Times is reporting the state is once again increasing inspections of trucks coming from Mexico into Texas. But there is pushback that the inspections aren't accomplishing much except hurting the economy. "It is all political show, and what it is doing is that it is hurting business," U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said.       Get Unlimited Digital Access for 25¢ Support local, independent journalism. Act Now SALE ENDS MAY 15 | Cancel Anytime Unsubscribe  |  Manage Preferences  |  Privacy Notice Houston Chronicle 4747 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77027 © 2023 Hearst Communications