Jason Ellsworth

A district court judge has thrown out a state senator’s guilty verdict less than 24 hours after it was spoken. Sen. Jason Ellsworth was found guilty of using his access to Senate funds to privately award $170,000 in government contracts to a longtime friend, using a loophole to avoid a public bid. A retrial is scheduled for December.

After more than a year of investigations and a six-day trial, Republican Sen. Jason Ellsworth has been found guilty of abusing his power to award a close friend $170,000 in government contracts.

Infighting continues in the Montana Republican Party as a new set of bylaws for party members comes under scrutiny in district court. A Montana state senator charged with official misconduct faces a jury trial that started Tuesday. More than 100,000 people responded to a proposed overhaul of federal grazing regulations.

State Sen. Jason Ellsworth, a Republican from Hamilton and former Senate president, was charged last year with official misconduct for awarding two no-bid state contracts to a longtime friend.

A state senator pleaded not guilty Thursday to an official misconduct charge over a no-bid contract he awarded to a longtime colleague in 2024. The case is now headed for a jury trial.

State prosecutors say Sen. Jason Ellsworth abused his power when he awarded a no-bid state contract to a longtime friend and colleague.

Gov. Gianforte issues disaster declaration over storm damage; State senator Jason Ellsworth faces official misconduct charges; Gallatin County appoints replacement for open legislative seat.

Sen. Ellsworth gets his punishment. Montana's congressional delegation stands behind the Trump tariffs. Humanities Montana becomes a victim of the DOGE cuts. And, the old fight over who should own public lands resurfaces.

The Montana Senate voted to punish a Hamilton Republican Tuesday following an ethics investigation into claims he abused his power and wasted taxpayer dollars.

Two Republican Senate leaders continue to battle allegations of ethics violations. The governor signs two anti-trans bills into law. The House takes up the main budget bill. A Kalispell Republican loses his effort to name Jesus the ruler of all nations. And the late, great journalist Chuck Johnson is honored at the Capitol.