A state lawmaker who pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge last year has been arrested again on charges of driving under the influence.
House Democrat Brad Bennett of Dover was arrested by Wilmington police Sunday night after he allegedly sideswiped a parked police cruiser on North Market Street and drove away in his SUV.
The 46-year-old Bennett has been charged with drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident, failing to report an accident involving alcohol and no proof of insurance.
Bennett was sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty in Sussex County last year to DUI.
House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf said in a statement released Monday that Bennett will be the subject of an ethics committee investigation after his most recent criminal charges are resolved.
“As Rep. Bennett is entitled to due process and we as a committee will need all substantiated information in hand, we will let the justice system proceed first,” said the statement from Schwartzkopf. “We have been informed that Rep. Bennett intends to seek treatment. On a personal level, I wish him the best in addressing these issues.”
Under House rules (House Resolution 2), if the Ethics Committee recommends a disciplinary action, the committee would present a resolution to the House. According to House rules, disciplinary action can range from censure (a formal reprimand) to suspension or expulsion.
Politics
The Ethics Committee members include the leaders of both House caucuses -- Reps. Schwartzkopf, Robert F. Gilligan, Valerie J. Longhurst, Gregory F. Lavelle and Gerald W. Hocker.
