Gov. Greg Gianforte suspended Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar for one year Thursday following independent investigations that found evidence of unlawful conduct, including sex discrimination and retaliation. Gianforte acknowledged in a letter to Molnar that the action is unprecedented in state history.
The suspension marks the first time a Montana governor has taken such action against a sitting Public Service Commissioner, a statewide elected official who serves on the five-member body that regulates the state's utilities and telecommunications carriers. The specific findings that prompted the suspension — sex discrimination and retaliation — point to conduct involving Molnar's treatment of staff or colleagues, though the full scope of the investigations has not been publicly released.
Molnar has responded to the suspension, pushing back on the governor's decision, according to reporting by the Daily Montanan. The nature of his response was not immediately available, but the fact that Molnar is an elected official complicates any effort to remove him from office outright. A suspension, rather than removal, reflects the legal constraints Gianforte faces in acting against a commissioner who answers ultimately to Montana voters.
For Helena residents and utility ratepayers statewide, the suspension raises questions about the functioning of the commission during Molnar's absence. The PSC makes consequential decisions on electricity and natural gas rates, broadband access, and other services that affect households across Montana. How the commission will handle its caseload with one member sidelined — and whether Molnar will contest the suspension — remains to be seen.