Sexual harassment, assault allegations rock state Capitol
OLYMPIA — The state Capitol was thrown into tumult last week by sexual misconduct allegations against two former lawmakers and a parade of women criticizing the Legislature’s workplace culture, prompting politicians to call for change.
Within two days, four women publicly accused former Olympia-area state Rep. Brendan Williams, a Democrat, of behavior such as sexual harassment and assault in a story by The Associated Press, and Democratic leaders revealed for the first time that former Rep. Jim Jacks was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior toward a female staffer before he resigned abruptly in 2011.
New allegations of inappropriate touching and sexual harassment against Jacks came to light soon after.
Those revelations followed a Tuesday story on the culture at the Capitol by The News Tribune, The Olympian and Northwest News Network, in which women described a range of inappropriate behavior — from butt grabs to inappropriate comments — which they have dealt with on the job.
Many women working at the Legislature had spoken out earlier on Facebook, prompted by the #MeToo social media campaign that was sparked after allegations of sexual misconduct against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, cable news host Bill O’Reilly and others.
“Absolutely I think there’s more appetite for change after this,” said state Rep. Noel Frame, a Seattle Democrat. In the aftermath of the story in which women accused others at the Capitol of butt patting, Frame posted on Twitter: “PSA: If this happens to you, you march right into my office and tell me so I can help.”
Link to tweet
http://www.heraldnet.com/northwest/sexual-harassment-assault-allegations-rock-state-capitol/?utm_source=DAILY+HERALD&utm_campaign=a6f2f569fd-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d81d073bb4-a6f2f569fd-228635337
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