Wasilla legislator accused of slapping news reporter

Freshman state lawmaker Sen. David Wilson (R-Wasilla), stands accused of slapping a newspaper reporter inside Juneau's Alaska Capitol building on Tuesday.

According to published reports, Alaska Dispatch News reporter Nathaniel Herz accused Wilson, a former Wasilla city councilman, of slapping him on the face after asking Wilson if he thought a story he had written was fair. The alleged incident took place, Herz said, in a stairwell. Herz, a statehouse reporter with three years of covering the Alaska legislature, had written a story on Wilson's proposed bill to cut funding to many Mat-Su social service organizations, with the exception of one for which Wilson had previously worked.

Herz said he wasn't injured in the alleged incident that he recorded on his smartphone. Herz did file a report with the Juneau Police Department. The department's daily online bulletin stated "On 05-02-2017, a 29-year-old male reported harassment that occurred on 4th Street. Investigation continues."

Speaking on behalf of the Republican-led state Senate majority, Daniel McDonald stated, "The Senate expects professional conduct and decorum from all members. Until all the facts surrounding the situation described are available, we have no further comment."

Wilson has made no public comment on the alleged incident.