The Salt Lake City Council voted late Tuesday night to launch an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct by council member Eva Lopez Chavez.

Lopez Chavez joined her colleagues in voting for the motion to investigate, but did not speak to the issue.

And while the inquiry is being done, the council decided, she will lose some council privileges and responsibilities.

Leading the investigation will be council members Chris Wharton, Dan Dugan and Ericka Carlsen. The trio will retain an independent investigator to explore allegations first reported by The Salt Lake Tribune that Lopez Chavez restrained four people during what they considered unwanted sexual advances.

The inquiry, aimed at determining if Lopez Chavez violated the council’s code of conduct, is expected to be done before the end of July, although the deadline could be delayed.

While the investigation is underway, Lopez Chavez, pursuant to a separate vote, will be prohibited from: conducting formal meetings; removed from her role as vice chair of the city’s Community Reinvestment Agency, which oversees city redevelopment projects; cannot take part in city-related travel; may not speak on behalf of the city council; and cannot use city resources to communicate about the investigation.

Both measures passed unanimously. Lopez Chavez abstained from voting on the removal of her privileges. Council member Victoria Petro, one of the women accusing Lopez Chavez of misconduct, abstained from both votes.

Lopez Chavez referred questions about the council’s action to attorney Alex Ramos, who did not respond to a text message Tuesday.

The motion did not address another question swirling around the council — whether Lopez Chavez has moved out of her city council district and, consequently, must give up her seat.

‘I deny wrongdoing’

The issue stems from allegations by four people who said that Lopez Chavez, before she was on the council, behaved in a sexually aggressive and inappropriate manner toward them, pinning three against a wall and another in a car and, in three instances, making sexually suggestive comments to them.

In February, based on concerns raised about Lopez Chavez’s behavior, Salt Lake City Council Chair Alejandro Puy asked staff to conduct a review of the council’s code of conduct and other city policies to ensure that anyone who doesn’t feel safe has an avenue to report allegations of wrongdoing.

Lopez Chavez has said nothing “inappropriate” occurred during her interactions with three of the people and the fourth alleged contact “never occurred.”

In a post on social media after the allegations were first reported, Lopez Chavez said the allegations “should be treated seriously” and she welcomed an independent investigation.

“At the same time, I want to be clear that I deny wrongdoing and will defend myself through the proper process,” she said at the time.

Lopez Chavez had been seen as a rising star in Democratic political circles and was part of a crowded field seeking the party’s nomination in Utah’s new 1st Congressional District. But amid the controversy, she failed to gather enough signatures to qualify for the primary ballot and was eliminated from the race at the state party’s recent nominating convention.

City is also looking into residency

The council’s investigation may become a moot point, however.

In September, Lopez Chavez purchased a home in Council District 5. If she has been living in the home, rather than in the 4th District she was elected to represent, the seat would be declared vacated under both state law and city ordinance.

The deed to the home requires the borrower to occupy the house for at least a year.

Last week, one of her constituents filed a request that the city attorney’s office investigate her residency, a separate inquiry that is being handled by the city recorder. The city recorder did not respond to questions about the status of that process on Tuesday.

If she is removed from office, the city council will have no grounds to investigate or take action against Lopez Chavez.