Brian Ellis

Republican Brian Ellis resigned from his position as state representative Monday evening.

His attorney, Erik Anderson, sent a statement on behalf of Ellis, who is from Butler Township. Anderson declined to offer any further comment.

“It has been a truly remarkable experience and honor to serve my hometown,” the statement read. “I, along with the unyielding help and support of my family and staff, hope that we have been able to effectively serve all of you and help many of you. Butler will always remain my home, and I look forward to returning home.”

In Ellis' formal resignation letter to Speaker of the House Mike Turzai, he offered another brief statement on his decision.

“It is with immense gratitude to the sacrifices made by my family, the support of my constituents, and the friendship of my colleagues that I have concluded that it is in the best interests of my family, the residents of the 11th House district, and my own health that I resign from the General Assembly.”

The resignation is effective immediately, according to Anderson.

Harrisburg media reported in January that Ellis is under investigation by the Dauphin County District Attorney's Office in connection with an alleged sexual assault in 2015.

Ellis previously offered little comment in response, and he has not cast a vote or been available in any of his offices since the initial reports.

Since the January reports, this is only the second time Ellis or his representatives have offered any form of comment. Anderson last sent a statement a week ago, when it was reported that the alleged assault victim had filed a formal complaint with a House ethics committee.

The previous statement said that “The accuser's latest self-serving repackaging of the 2015 allegations are just plain false.”

A Right to Know request filed with the state House by the Butler Eagle seeking a copy of said complaint was denied, but leaked documentation online shows that his accuser called on ethics committee members to begin a process to remove him from office.

In the days immediately preceding the initial reporting of the allegations, House Republican leadership called on Ellis to resign. Those calls were not withdrawn.

House staff was unable to confirm Monday whether the resignation was the result of any kind of negotiation with House leadership.

Within an hour of Ellis' resignation, his name was removed from House's roster of members on the governing body's official website. Navigating directly to his former page returns an error: “The member you requested could not be found.”

Ellis took office in 2004 and began his current term in January.

A special election is already scheduled for May 21 to fill two other vacancies in Pennsylvania's government. State laws stipulate that such an election must be called at least 60 days prior to an election taking place.

May 21 was 64 days away on Monday, so Ellis' former 11th District seat should qualify to be filled via the already scheduled special election.

A decision about whether to fill the 11th District seat in that election should be made within the next day or two, according to staff in the Speaker of the House's office.

The House is scheduled to be in session Tuesday. Ellis' resignation letter is expected to be read into the House's formal record during legislative session.

As of Monday, Ellis has not been charged with any offense.