PHOENIX — Arizona Speaker-elect Rusty Bowers announced disciplinary actions Friday evening against state Representative David Cook (R-8) as a result of his arrest for driving under the influence Wednesday night.
The Republican lawmaker allegedly had a Breath Alcohol Content of .159 after he was stopped by DPS troopers.
In a release sent by the House Republican Caucus, the House County Infrastructure Committee, which was to be chaired by Cook, will be disbanded. The committee's jurisdiction will be shifted to other House committees.
The release also went on to say that Cook will also be removed from the House Public Safety Committee, but will remain a member of the House of Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee.
Speaker-elect Bowers issued the following statement:
“After reading the police report, viewing the footage of the arrest, and talking to Representative Cook, I have decided it is best to disband the County Infrastructure Committee and remove Representative Cook from service on the Public Safety Committee,” said Speaker-elect Bowers. “Representative Cook has the ability to be a talented legislator, but he clearly has some personal challenges that he needs to confront. I’m hopeful that this incident serves as a wake-up call to him and that he does the work necessary to earn back the trust of his colleagues and constituents – and he has committed to do so.”
The initial incident report released by DPS shows Cook was uncooperative with the responding trooper on several occasions after being pulled over near the Loop 202 and McDowell Road. According to the report, Cook refused to exit his vehicle several times when asked to do so. Cook also allegedly told the trooper that he had been swerving because he dropped his phone while driving and was trying to pick it up.
While having Cook exit a patrol car, the trooper wrote that he told him to "watch his head," to which Cook replied, "I’m fine, don’t worry. You’ll get yours."
According to DPS sources, Cook even threatened to invoke legislative immunity, although that portion was not found in the report.
When given paperwork for a suspended license, Cook allegedly replied, "It's fine, my wife works for the MVD."
On Thursday evening, Cook issued an apology on his Facebook page:
Cook was elected in 2016 as a state representative for Arizona's 8th Legislative District, representing the central and eastern portions of Pinal County, and the southern portion of Gila County.
