Lawyers for state Rep. Brian Ellis broke a month-and-a-half-long silence this week regarding a sexual assault accusation against the lawmaker that surfaced in a Jan. 24 Philadelphia Inquirer report. We believe Ellis owes his constituents more than a prepared statement.

On Tuesday, a woman who has accused Ellis of sexually assaulting her in Harrisburg in 2015 filed a complaint with House leadership. She alleges that she woke up naked in Ellis’ bed and felt disoriented, as if she possibly had sustained a head injury. The evening before, the woman said she’d had less than two drinks with a friend at a bar. She alleges that Ellis had expressed sexual interest in her, but she had rejected him.

In response, Ellis’ law firm, Myers, Brier and Kelly, filed a statement on his behalf. It reads: “This anonymous complaint was prepared by the accuser’s hired agents — and then instantly given to numerous media outlets — for one cynical reason: to generate sensational press coverage. The accuser’s latest self-serving repackaging of the 2015 allegations are just plain false.”

In the wake of the allegations, House leadership — including the Republican caucus — has called for Ellis to resign. It’s difficult to argue with them.

We won’t comment on the allegations in the Ellis case. The accusation should be taken seriously, but while the Inquirer reported that Ellis is under investigation for the alleged assault, there are currently no criminal charges.

But regardless of the eventual outcome of the allegations, Ellis is doing a disservice to his constituents. Part of Butler County currently has no representation, partly because state Sen. Don White recently announced his retirement and partly because Ellis is not showing up for work.

White cited health issues as the reason for his retirement, and the vacancy left for his seat will be filled during a May 21 special election.

But Ellis has no legitimate reason for his absence other than the controversy swirling around him. He has not returned to Harrisburg for a vote since the Inquirer article came out, and his lawyers’ statement on Tuesday is the only word we have heard from him.

An investigation into the type of allegation leveled against him could take months or even years. Is Ellis planning on remaining absent until it comes to its conclusion?

Voters in the 11th district deserve to have representation. Hiding out from constituents and the media is no longer an option. Ellis either needs to go back to work and do his job for the Western Pennsylvania residents who have put their trust in him or he needs to step aside and allow someone else to do it.