{"id":7017,"date":"2026-02-28T02:15:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T02:15:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=7017"},"modified":"2026-02-28T02:15:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T02:15:19","slug":"washington-house-leader-joe-fitzgibbon-apologizes-for-drinking-before-hearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=7017","title":{"rendered":"Washington House leader Joe Fitzgibbon apologizes for drinking before hearing"},"content":{"rendered":"


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NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A Democratic Washington state<\/a> lawmaker has apologized after admitting he showed up to a committee hearing after drinking alcohol and making somewhat slurred remarks during the proceeding. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Democratic state Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, the state House majority leader, said it was a “serious mistake for many reasons” when he appeared at a House Appropriations Committee meeting Wednesday where he discussed the operating budget.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I made a poor choice last night by drinking alcohol before we had finished our work for the day,” Fitzgibbon explained in a statement to “The Jason Rantz Show<\/a>,” which first reported on the ordeal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I am disappointed in myself and take responsibility for that poor choice. It won\u2019t happen again, and I\u2019m committed to completing my work this session without alcohol.”<\/p>\n

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Democratic Washington House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon apologized after he said he drank alcohol before a committee meeting this week.\u00a0<\/span> (TVW)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

During the hearing, Fitzgibbon spoke about the budget and appeared to slur his words at times.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I am grateful to all the members of this committee and all the members of the house for putting forward their ideas and putting forward that … that … the … the operating budget that we put forward does not forget that the people we are working to represent, the people we are working to lift up and support … don’t always have a voice in this process,” Fitzgibbon said, Fox Seattle<\/a> reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON SWIMMER TAKES ON STATE GOVERNMENT, SAYS GIRLS SHOULDN’T BE PRESSURED TO UNDRESS AROUND BOYS<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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The Washington state Capitol\u00a0<\/span> (Dan Mihai\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In a statement to the news outlet, he said being impaired “was harmful to my work and to my co-workers” and embarrassing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital has reached out to Fitzgibbon and the Washington State Republican Party.\u00a0<\/p>\n

State House Speaker<\/a> Laurie Jinkins, also a Democrat, said while Fitzgibbon failed to meet behavorial standards associated with his appearance at the hearing, he has “acknowledged that behavior is unacceptable and has apologized.”<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

She said House Democratic<\/a> leaders stand with Fitzgibbon as he takes steps to ensure his well-being.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is unclear whether Fitzgibbon will face any disciplinary action.<\/p>\n

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Related Article<\/h3>\n
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