Colorado Republican state Rep. Ryan Armagost abruptly resigns ahead of censure vote
Colorado Republican state Representative Ryan Armagost resigned abruptly ahead of a planned censure vote. The censure was prompted by Armagost taking a photo of Democratic state Rep. Yara Zokaie without her knowledge during floor proceedings. Armagost, formerly the House minority whip, shared the photo in a private Republican group chat where colleagues made derogatory comments comparing Zokaie’s attire to that of a stripper or prostitute. The photo was then anonymously posted on social media with vulgar captions, which led to widespread harassment, including racist, misogynistic, adn violent threats against Zokaie and her children.
Democratic leaders condemned Armagost’s behavior, emphasizing the harm it caused and stating it was unbecoming of a legislator. Although Armagost was expected to resign soon for a new job and personal reasons, his resignation came ahead of the censure vote, which Democrats said would not erase the harm done. At the time the photo was taken, Armagost was chairing the house Workplace Harassment Committee. Zokaie expressed deep mistrust toward Republican colleagues and criticized minority leadership for dishonesty in handling the incident.
Colorado Republican state Rep. Ryan Armagost abruptly resigns ahead of censure vote
A Colorado state lawmaker resigned Thursday ahead of a vote to censure him for taking a picture of a Democratic lawmaker without her knowledge during floor proceedings.
Republican state Rep. Ryan Armagost, the former House minority whip, had been facing a vote to censure him as the photo became the center of a social media harassment campaign.
“Rep. Armagost chose to walk away rather than face accountability for his actions,” said Democratic state Rep. Yara Zokaie, the subject of the picture in question.
He was already expected to resign from his role effective Sept. 1 to pursue a new job and relationship in Arizona. Democrats indicated that they are exploring steps for the censure resolution.
“Resigning may remove him from this chamber, but it does not erase the harm he caused or the responsibility he bears for perpetuating a culture of violence against women,” Zokaie continued.
Armagost shared the picture in a private group chat with fellow Republicans. Some lawmakers compared her outfit to that of a stripper and a prostitute.
“That’s awful,” Republican state Rep. Brandi Bradley wrote in the group chat. “I didn’t know it was dress like a stripper day.”
The image was then posted online on an anonymous, conservative social media account. The initial social media post on X was captioned, “Thoughts?” and was followed by a second post reading “Smash or Pass Yara Zokaie.”
The “photograph was subsequently disseminated on social media by anonymous accounts, accompanied by vulgar commentary, and comments to the social media posts quickly escalated into racist and misogynistic attacks, rape threats, and violent threats directed against the colleague and her young children,” according to the resolution to censure.
Democratic leadership in Colorado condemned Armagost’s actions ahead of the vote. Assistant House Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon called it “unbecoming” of an elected official.
“It’s unbecoming of a legislator to the extent that it harms somebody, it harms somebody in the workplace, and it is not the example that we want to set on behalf of the people who we are elected to represent,” she said.
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Armagost has declined to comment on why he took the picture. At the time he took it, he chaired the House Workplace Harassment Committee.
“My trust with a number of Republican colleagues is completely broken and will not be rebuilt,” Zokaie said, according to Colorado Public Radio. “Minority leadership did lie to me.”
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