Full Breakdown
Former Montana Senate President Jason Ellsworth Charged with Official Misconduct
12/20/2025, 12:35:30 AM
Allegations of Misconduct and Charges Filed
Former Republican state Senate President Jason Ellsworth has been charged with misdemeanor official misconduct by the Montana Department of Justice. The charge stems from allegations that Ellsworth attempted to award $171,100 worth of government work to Bryce Eggleston, a longtime friend and business partner. The Department of Justice announced the charges on Thursday, requesting that the court suspend Ellsworth from serving until a judgment is reached. Given that Ellsworth is facing term limits and does not serve on an interim committee, the suspension would have minimal impact on his final year in office, as the Legislature is not scheduled to meet.
In April, Ellsworth was banned for life from the Senate floor and from committees due to ethics violations related to this contract issue. The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail. Ellsworth has previously denied any wrongdoing and could not be reached for comment following the announcement of the charges.
Investigation and Legislative Actions
The investigation into Ellsworth began after Senate peers, including Kalispell Republican Sen. Matt Regier, reported concerns regarding the contract. Regier informed investigators that Ellsworth had contracted with Eggleston to track proposed laws related to perceived bias in the state court system. A Senate ethics investigation revealed that Ellsworth attempted to split the work into two contracts to circumvent a $100,000 threshold that would have mandated a competitive bidding process. The combined value of the two contracts was $171,100. Notably, Eggleston declined the work before the investigation concluded.
In response to the findings, the Senate voted 44 to 6 to censure Ellsworth in April and referred the matter for a criminal investigation to the Department of Justice in February.
Responses from Leadership
In a press release following the charges, Sen. Regier expressed his support for the Attorney General's actions, stating, “I applaud Attorney General Austin Knudsen for taking corruption in government seriously.” However, attempts by Republican leadership to expel Ellsworth from the Senate outright were unsuccessful, as they could not achieve the necessary two-thirds majority, with nine Republicans joining Democrats in opposing the expulsion.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the Department of Justice has confirmed the charges against Ellsworth, there are discrepancies regarding the extent of the misconduct and the motivations behind the contract. The investigation's findings have not been publicly detailed, leaving some aspects of the case open to interpretation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I applaud Attorney General Austin Knudsen for taking corruption in government seriously,” — Sen. Matt Regier, Republican Senate Leader.
