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The committee in charge of States rules and procedures has had to destroy its copies of the Code of Conduct report that recommended Deputy Chris Le Tissier's expulsion.
The States' Assembly & Constitution Committee has had to pull back on presenting the report to the presiding officer for debate in the States, after Deputy Le Tissier's legal representatives signalled his intention to appeal the Code of Conduct Panel's ruling.
Using the Twitter handle @Radiosutch299, the first-time deputy told prominent historian Dr Gilly Carr to "leave Guernsey alone" because she is "non local", while also criticising Deputy Gavin St Pier with the same retort.
Deputy Le Tissier has also been caught repeatedly commenting on States business - since his election - under the guise of a concerned member of the public "listening while working from home".
That duplicity, which was unearthed by an Express investigation, led to seven complaints and a self-referral, with the panel taking the unprecedented decision to recommend that Deputy Le Tissier is not fit to be a States Deputy having breached six sections of the Code of Conduct.
Pictured: Deputy Le Tissier is able to appeal the panel's decision on the basis of significant factual inaccuracies or procedural errors. It is understood that the Bailiff Richard McMahon will preside over the appeal and decide whether it has merit.
The next stage was to use SACC as a "postbox function" to deliver that report to the States at its next meeting on 28 April. However, the situation is now up in the air, as it appears that the report should not have been sent to SACC members before Deputy Le Tissier had been given the opportunity to appeal against the investigations findings.
"The States’ Assembly & Constitution Committee has been notified that it is the intention of Deputy Chris Le Tissier to appeal the outcome of the recent review of the independent Code of Conduct panel," confirmed a spokesman.
"The Committee has therefore decided not to take any further action until the appeal process has been followed."
On Monday, shortly after the report was published online, a representative for the Conduct Panel apologised to Deputy Le Tissier following the premature publication of the report.
"Because of a procedural error, the Investigation Panel erroneously forwarded its report to H.M. Greffier, put it on the States’ website and notified the media of its existence.
Pictured: One of the tweets, posted under a pseudonym, that formed the basis of conduct complaints against the suspended Guernsey Party member.
"The report has been removed from the States’ website. It will be for the SACC to put the matter to the Presiding Officer as set out in the Code. The Panel members and their secretary offer their apologies to Deputy Le Tissier for this procedural error which meant that the matter became public before it should have done."
Deputy Le Tissier signalled his intention to appeal against his suggested expulsion earlier this week, although a formal challenge has not been confirmed.
“I am surprised, shocked and disappointed at the severity of the Panel’s decision. I am currently consulting with my Advocate as to what the options are for a challenge," he said.
"I have also asked for all relevant records under a Subject Access Request to enable me to understand why the Panel has handed down such a disproportionate and draconian penalty."
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