Who paid for lawmakers' secret sexual harassment settlement? Democrat wants answers.
Frankfort -- A Democratic lawmaker filed a complaint Wednesday with the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission, asking for an investigation into a sexual harassment settlement between four Republican lawmakers and a legislative employee who worked for them.
“Our priority must be to ensure that all employees have a safe and secure workplace, one in which they are free from harassment and able to make complaints, if needed, without fear of retaliation,” said Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville. “We also need to seek transparency regarding the funding source for any sexual harassment settlements entered into by lawmakers.”
The ethics complaint comes 10 days after state Rep. Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown, resigned as speaker of the House and acknowledged that he and three other Republican lawmakers had secretly settled a sexual harassment allegation. The other lawmakers were removed from their positions as committee chairmen, but none of the four have heeded the call of Gov. Matt Bevin to resign from the General Assembly.
Hoover admitted that he participated in the settlement, but admitted no wrongdoing and said there was not a culture of sexual harassment in Frankfort. Rep. Brian Linder, R-Dry Ridge, also admitted to participating in the settlement and apologized to his constituents. He too said he did not admit guilt in the settlement.
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article184797963.html
