Vito Barbieri, Idaho House LD3A

Idaho Statesman via Yahoo · March 2026

He introduced a bill to make House ethics hearings secret from the public.
The public hearings he wanted to close are the same ones that led to a rape conviction.

Primary Source
HR 027 – Idaho Legislature, 2026 session
Barbieri's proposal to close ethics hearings to the public

Boise State Public Radio · March 2026

He testified for a convicted rapist during his ethics trial and sent the sentencing judge a letter of support on official state letterhead.
He is now trying to close the public hearings that produced that conviction.

Primary Source
Barbieri's character reference letter for Aaron von Ehlinger
Obtained via public records request by Boise State Public Radio, September 2022

Idaho Capital Sun · September 2022

He wrote to the judge on official letterhead calling a convicted rapist "upstanding" and "genuine in character."
The victim was a 19-year-old legislative intern.

Boise State Public Radio · December 2021

He called the public ethics hearings a "fiasco" and pushed to close future ones.
A fellow Republican said his plan would leave "everything veiled in secrecy."

Spokesman-Review · February 2015

While voting on abortion law, he asked a doctor if a woman could swallow a camera for a gynecological exam.
The doctor had to explain that swallowed pills don't reach the vagina.

Primary Source
HB 154 – Idaho Legislature, 2015 session
Bill banning telemedicine abortion prescriptions that prompted the exchange

Slate · February 2015

Slate was among dozens of national outlets that covered the exchange; the story spread widely on the day it occurred.

U.S. News & World Report · February 2015

National media covered the exchange as part of a pattern of legislators not understanding basic anatomy.
He was voting on laws about female reproduction at the time.

Spokesman-Review · October 2012

He called Idaho's public schools a "Godless institution" and urged Christians to pull their kids out.
When asked about it at a debate, he said: "My words exactly."

Spokesman-Review · October 2012

After the statement attracted wider attention, he publicly stood by it when reporters asked for comment.

Coeur d'Alene Press · January 2024

He voted against the Idaho State Police budget bill.
All ten legislators who voted no were top-rated by the KCRCC and the Idaho Freedom Foundation.