Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, has arrived for this morning's Senate Ethics Committee with attorney Chuck Peterson, one of the state's leading criminal defense attorneys. Peterson defended Randy Weaver in the Ruby Ridge case; was part of the team defending Sami al-Hussayen against terrorism charges and defended 14-year-old Zachary Neagle on charges of murdering his father.

This morning's meeting will mainly consist of orientation for the ethics committee members, who consist of six senators evenly divided between the two parties. Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane will brief the senators about the applicable laws and rules. Pearce is accused of ethics violations for failing to disclose he signed oil and gas leases on his Payette County property, before voting on numerous pieces of legislation and rules in committee and in the full Senate on oil and gas drilling. He disclosed the conflict before the full Senate's vote last week on the most controversial bill, HB 464.