By Matt Bittle

DOVER — Sen. Darius Brown has been removed as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee following his arrest on two misdemeanor charges related to an alleged domestic dispute over the weekend.

Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola, D-Newark, said Thursday he has informed Sen. Brown he will no longer preside over the panel. Delaware State Police on Wednesday announced charges against Sen. Brown, D-Wilmington, stemming from a Sunday incident.

“I believe this step is necessary to allow the Committee to continue its critical work without distraction,” Sen. Sokola said in a brief statement.

Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Talleyville, will lead the body, he said.

According to Delaware State Police, troopers were called to Wilmington’s Taverna Rustic Italian Restaurant, located at 3549 Silverside Road, for a report of a domestic altercation around 6:20 p.m. Sunday. Police said a 44-year-old woman had been dining with Sen. Brown when an argument broke out between them over a social media post.

Sen. Brown then allegedly punched her in the face before throwing a glass of water and leaving the scene.

The victim sustained some redness to the side of her face but did not require any medical attention.

Sen. Brown was charged with offensive touching and disorderly conduct and turned himself in Tuesday. He was released on his own recognizance with a no-contact order with the victim.

Sen. Brown, 39, was first elected in 2018 to the open 2nd Senatorial District seat, winning a four-way primary to clinch the Democratic nomination. He was unopposed in the general election.

During his time in the General Assembly so far, he has made criminal justice reform a priority, being named chair of the Judiciary Committee shortly after being elected.

Like the 61 other legislators, he is up for reelection next year.

The Associated Press reported Sen. Brown pleaded guilty to resisting arrest in 2009 and no contest before judgment to offensive touching in 2004. He also, per the AP, has a long history of traffic arrests and convictions and failed to report on his required financial disclosure he owed thousands of dollars in back taxes.

In a statement Wednesday night, Delaware Republican Party Chairwoman Jane Brady called on Sen. Brown to give up his seat or be expelled by the Senate.

“The behavior that has been reported, if true, is reprehensible and warrants his resignation,” she said.

Noting a criminal investigation is ongoing, the state Democratic Party declined to comment other than to call domestic violence a serious and reprehensible issue.

The General Assembly last disciplined a lawmaker in 2007, after then Rep. John Atkins attempted to use his legislative identification card to avoid charges after being stopped for a DUI and, later that same night, grabbed his wife during a domestic dispute.

The seldom-utilized House Ethics Committee drafted a resolution to censure the representative, but he resigned rather than face possible expulsion.