Esty Under Fire for Mishandling Chief of Staffs Abuse Allegations

[brooklynite]

Source: Roll Call

Connecticut Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Esty is under fire for keeping her chief of staff on the payroll for months after learning of abuse allegations against him and for writing a letter of recommendation for him after firing him.

In 2016, Esty severed ties with then-Chief of Staff Tony Baker for allegedly punching, berating and sexually harassing Esty’s senior aide at the time, Anna Kain, the Connecticut Post reported Thursday.

“You better f---ing reply to me or I will f---ing kill you,” Baker said in a May 5, 2016, recording left for Kain that was obtained by The Washington Post.

Kain contacted the police and filed a report for felony threats and secured a 12-month restraining order against Baker, the Post reported.



Read more: http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/esty-fire-mishandling-chief-staffs-abuse-allegations

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. So the actual policitian can assault women if they have an R after their name

but a Democrat will take heaps of shit for not firing someone who did.

OK, I know. We are better than the right, the right are filth.

She will need to do the right thing and she will.

[Dawson Leery]

2. No resignation.

She does not have to run again if she does not want to.
She assaulted no one and should be allowed to finish her term.

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. I meant the politician in question would do the right thing and fire the abuser which

I guess was already done.

[George II]

4. And here's what the republicans said about it

“Elizabeth Esty orchestrated one of the most disturbing Washington cover-ups in recent memory"

Huh? Did she pay someone $130K to keep quiet? Did she instruct her staff to keep quiet? Did she lie about it?

No, no, and no. They should look at their own "president" if they want to see disturbing cover-ups!

Bottom line, he was gone in three months. She's a very good Congresswoman, fully in touch with her constituency.

[Dawson Leery]

5. ..as all Republicans are scum.

[Eliot Rosewater]

20. Until the nazis are out of the WH I will support any dem, any dem, period

[Dawson Leery]

23. Joe Ganim is the Patron Saint of Politics when

compared to ANY Rethug.

[karynnj]

18. Are you ok that she left him on staff for months after learning of the accusations?

Other than saying that that time was needed to assess if the accusations were accurate, the Congresswoman is guilty of not correcting a hostile work environment. These charges are very serious. Even if she could change the Chief of Staff's behavior going forward, how do you think women on her staff feel about him staying in that position. What about any young female interns.

Yes, the President himself - and some other Republicans themselves - have been accused of assault. Some of the Republicans have been charged and a few have left their positions. However, this is not a case where we should argue that two wrongs make a right. This is not even because it could become a political election in her re-election campaign. This is something where we should draw a red line.

[rownesheck]

6. Sorry

Every time i see Esty, i read it as Etsy. I always have to read it twice to make sure Etsy isn't corrupt. I love Etsy.

[PasadenaTrudy]

7. I did too!

I thought, "what the hell?"

[George II]

8. Esty isn't corrupt either.

[karynnj]

19. You could argue that on this she perpetuated a hostile work environment

and that was bad judgement.

[George II]

21. Bad judgement, not corruption. People are flinging that word around way to much these days.

[karynnj]

22. I did not say corruption

However, it was bad judgement and poor management. She was the person heading that office - and she allowed this hostile situation to occur for longer than reasonable.

It may be that there is more to the story. Perhaps it took that long to get both sides - which is only fair. If I were in her district, I would need a very good explanation that showed that her actions reflected a balance between stopping the problem and spending enough time to give the Chief of Staff a fair chance to defend himself. (However, at a point where it is clear that his behavior was wrong -- he needed to be shown the door.)

[crazycatlady]

12. I get confused by that too

I run a store on the latter.

[samnsara]

15. Me too!..I have my crafts selling on ETSY...:(

[bitterross]

9. Their Al Franken win gave them the balls to keep trying this tactic

She must be doing something right because they are targeting her.

No way we should let them keep doing this.

[keithbvadu2]

10. No mulligan?

[Marcuse]

11. Uh Huh. Of course not.

There is no place for someone who protects abusers in Congress, and she should resign immediately,” NRCC spokesman Chris Martin said in a statement.

[crazycatlady]

13. Mr Duck PJs didn't resign, he's just not running again right?

[samnsara]

14. HOLY MOLY when i first read the headline I thought it was the online marketplace ETSY....

[CTyankee]

16. She is not my congressperson, Rosa deLaura is but I think Esty will have problems this

election year. I love my senators and they have been correct in condemning her but wanting to hear more about the situation. CT is deep blue and I want it kept that way. But this is troublesome.

[Oneironaut]

17. I dont see why Esty needs to resign. This is another political hack-job.

Yes, that abuser was a monster, but I hate how our party caves immediately to resignation demands. Maybe she shouldn’t run again, sure, but resign? I hope she doesn’t listen to them.