Former Yukon Speaker charged with sexual assault
David Laxton resigned as Speaker in May, citing allegation of sexual harrassment
David Laxton, the disgraced former Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, is due in court later this week to face a charge of sexual assault.
It stems from an incident alleged to have happened last February, but the details are not known.
Laxton resigned as Speaker in May, citing an allegation of sexual harassment. In a statement at that time he described a friendly hug and kiss offered to a long time acquaintance who he did not name.
Besides stepping down as Speaker, Laxton left the governing Yukon Party caucus to sit as an independent MLA. The Yukon Party later dumped him as a candidate in the upcoming election.
In July, the director of Yukon's Human Rights Commission, Jessica Lott Thompson, issued a statement saying that with the help of her office, Laxton and the complainant had reached a "mutually satisfactory agreement", and the harassment matter was considered "closed".
Both Laxton and the complainant were also quoted in Thompson's statement, saying they were satisfied with the process.
Laxton called it a "profound learning experience."