Former Gillibrand aide resigned in protest over handling of sex harassment claims

[demmiblue]

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), one of the most outspoken advocates of the #MeToo movement who has made fighting sexual misconduct a centerpiece of her presidential campaign, spent last summer pressing legislators to update Congress’ “broken” system of handling sexual harassment.

At the same time, a mid-20s female aide to Gillibrand resigned in protest over the handling of her sexual harassment complaint by Gillibrand‘s office, and criticized the senator for failing to abide by her own public standards.

In July, the female staffer alleged one of Gillibrand’s closest aides — who was a decade her senior and married — repeatedly made unwelcome advances after the senator had told him he would be promoted to a supervisory role over her. She also said the male aide regularly made crude, misogynistic remarks in the office about his female colleagues and potential female hires.

Less than three weeks after reporting the alleged harassment and subsequently claiming that the man retaliated against her for doing so, the woman told chief of staff Jess Fassler that she was resigning because of the office’s handling of the matter. She did not have another job lined up.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/11/gillibrand-sexual-harassment-1214831?nname=playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nrid=0000014e-f115-dd93-ad7f-f91513e50001&nlid=630318

[watoos]

1. The Politico link is a long read but explains the situation,

This is going to leave a mark, I think, with Gillibrand.

My only comment is that at least an investigation was done, it was a half baked investigation but it was more than Franken got.

Gillibrand did eventually fire the guy, she has that going for her.

I mean whataboutism isn't a good way to look at this but the GOP is the rub and tug party.

[Indykatie]

3. Gilleband's 2020 Campaign Seems to Be Going No Where

with her stuck in that group of candidates drawing 3% or less. This does open her up for some criticism but I'm not sure it matters.

[LisaL]

7. Fired him only after being contacted by politico.

[wellst0nev0ter]

12. She fired the guy when the allegation was about to get out

not exactly kosher behavior by the self-avowed Me Too warrior.

[Trumpocalypse]

15. No

Fired hi. when additional allegations were presented.

But that said. This buries Gillibrand’s campaign.

[wellst0nev0ter]

17. Yes, by Politico when asking for comment for the article

But I see you're willing to buy Gilibrand's cover story.

[Trumpocalypse]

18. No going by Politico's own article

wo weeks ago, however, POLITICO presented the office with its own findings of additional allegations of inappropriate workplace conduct by Malik. Among the claims were that he made a “joke” about rape to a female colleague — a person whom the office had failed to contact last summer despite repeated urgings by Malik’s accuser to reach out to the person.

Gillibrand’s office opened a new investigation and dismissed Malik last week. Malik did not respond to requests for comment.

BTW Now it is OK to accept the story of an anonymous woman?

[wellst0nev0ter]

21. Gillibrand knows who the woman is

Not anonymous, unlike half of Franken's trumpanzee accusers

[Trumpocalypse]

22. Sounds like a double standard

Typical.

[wellst0nev0ter]

23. You just don't know

What the term "anonymous accuser" means.

You're clearly not replying in good faith.

[Trumpocalypse]

24. Yes I do

and I know what a double standard is.

[wellst0nev0ter]

25. So You Know That Gilibrand

knew the accuser, which is the exact opposite of "anonymous."

Stop reaching.

[Trumpocalypse]

26. So some anonymous accusers

can be believed and others can’t. Got it.

[wellst0nev0ter]

30. If they are known to the accused, yes

That can be said for Gillibrand. That can't be said for Franken.

[Trumpocalypse]

31. Thanks for

defining the rules of the double standard.

[CentralMass]

29. KH has somewhat of a similar situation.

[WeekiWater]

2. Gillibrand is good in this area.

I get why she is so disliked here but this is an area she is actually trying to change the landscape for the better. An investigation was done and the guy has since been fired.

DC would be a better environment is congress followed Gillibrand proposals in this area and in her proposals on transparency.

[watoos]

4. Did you read the entire link?

[WeekiWater]

5. I did. NT

[50 Shades Of Blue]

6. The article goes on to say the resigning staffer got no response

To her letter of resignation.

Imo, this looks terrible for Gillibrand and she needs to address this.

[hlthe2b]

8. One might wonder if she would have acted more strongly if the accused was a more public figure

that Gillibrand could better use to her advantage--like Franken?

I believe others see what I do and that is why her candidacy is going NOWHERE.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

9. ITA with your last sentence.

[workinclasszero]

11. No doubt about that

But she didn't stand to gain anything from immediately dealing with her own staffer so...😒

[Eric J in MN]

10. Kirsten Gillibrand doesn't seem consistent on this issue.

Al Franken should resign without an investigation.

Her staffer should get an investigation.

[bench scientist]

13. Oh she's consistent she pivots to whatever gets her the most attention

Here’s the article at the hill
https://apple.news/AWPxIizbRTQe4pg--wheoZw
“Gillibrand] kept a harasser on her staff until it proved politically untenable for her to do so,” she said in an interview.”
To me this is pure Gillibrand she a political opportunist and clumsy one at that.

[LongtimeAZDem]

14. "Driver and military adviser"?

Malik became Gillibrand’s driver in 2011 after serving two tours in the Iraq War. He became such a constant presence in Gillibrand’s life — he had a set of keys to her home and often drove her children to school with her — that some staffers dubbed him “the keeper of her purse.” The office changed his title to “military adviser” in 2015 despite his responsibilities remaining largely the same

Um, OK.

[Trumpocalypse]

16. Put a fork in it!

Gillibrand’s presidentially campaign is done.

[JI7]

19. she wasn't going to be the nominee even without this

[Trumpocalypse]

20. True

Generates no excitement.

[aikoaiko]

27. Things are not going well for Gillibrand 2020.

Still there is lots of time to bounce back.

[LakeArenal]

28. I think she was toast before she announced.

It will be interesting to see who she endorses. You would think Harris, but after Gillibrand knifed Clinton’s, who knows what she would do.