Montana GOP Calls for Senator Jason Ellsworth’s Resignation Following Ethics Violations

HELENA, MT – The Montana Republican Party today formally called for the resignation of Senator Jason Ellsworth following serious ethics violations identified in a recent Senate Ethics Committee report. The report determined that Senator Ellsworth violated state ethics rules by approving a no-bid state contract valued at $170,100 awarded to Agile Analytics, a firm owned by his longtime associate, Bryce Eggleston.

The Ethics Committee found that Senator Ellsworth failed to disclose his personal relationship with Eggleston, thereby creating a clear conflict of interest. Additionally, the report revealed that Ellsworth had divided the contract into two smaller agreements, likely to evade state procurement rules requiring competitive bidding for contracts exceeding $100,000.

This action comes shortly after Senator Ellsworth was rebuked by the Montana GOP as one of the “Out of Line Nine,” a group of Republicans criticized for siding with Democrats and undermining Republican legislative priorities.

The Montana Republican Party urged Senator Ellsworth to resign voluntarily, emphasizing that his resignation is essential for restoring public trust and ensuring the Senate’s integrity. “Should Senator Ellsworth choose not to resign,” the party stated, “the Montana Republican Party will fully support any Senate decision to expel him.”

The call for Ellsworth’s resignation was unanimously approved by the Montana Republican Party’s Executive Board which stated its continued commitment to serving the interests of all Montanans and upholding the highest standards of conduct in state government.