Earlier on Monday, esty had asked the Committee on ethics of the house of representatives, to see how it handled harassment claims against his former chief of staff.
“Too many women have suffered from harassment in the workplace,” esty wrote, announcing his decision. “In a terrible situation in my office, I could and should have done better. On Survivor, I want to Express my strong regret that we failed you”.
Esty issued a statement on Twitter last week, saying she was “horrified and angry” to learn of harassment claims against his former chief of staff Tony Baker, and admitted that “failed to protect” her younger female assistant – Anna Cain – who accused Baker of making death threats and physical violence. In a statement, Baker denies any physical violence.
Esti, now serving his third term in the House of representatives, kept Baker on her staff for several months after allegations surfaced in may 2016, instead of him ordering to get advice, as she led internal audits of the process of “investigation” performed in her office. Baker remained on the payroll until Aug. 12, 2016.
“Questions were raised about how the dismissal was handled, and I ask you to write for ethics Committee review of the circumstances and determine whether there was any wrongdoing on my part,” esty wrote in a letter to Reps. Susan Brooks and Ted Deutch, chair and ranking Democrat on the panel.
In the Wake of the revelations, the newspaper the Hartford Courant called on esty to resign, blasting her handling the situation as “dire.” The national Republican congressional Committee, the GOP campaign, and called on esty to resign, as have several Connecticut Democrats.
The minority leader in the House of representatives Nancy Pelosi stopped calling on Etsy to resign, instead of crediting her for taking steps to launch an investigation of ethics.
“As esti Congressman acknowledged that his actions did not protect Ms. Cain should be,” Pelosi, d-Calif., said. “Congresswoman esty is now duly requested an expedited review by the ethics Committee”.
Esti said she ultimately removed Baker from her staff, upon learning that it claims to have been “an isolated case” and that he was a “victim” of a few women from her staff. Since then she says she’s hired a new chief of staff, made changes in senior staff, changed the policy in the field of employment, and introduced mandatory training harassment and gave him a severance package and helped him get a job with sany hook promise advocacy group for the prevention of violence with weapons.
The revelations come during a session of Congress, which has already seen several members resigned in connection with accusations of sexual harassment and harassment. The Republic Of Trent Franks, R-Ariz., Representative John Conyers, Democrat From Michigan and Senator al Franken, d-Minnesota. all resigned last year after allegations of sexual harassment or violations surfaced against them.
Esti has shown that she will serve her term of office, which expires in January of next year.
“In Congress, and workplaces across the country, we need stronger protection of jobs and provide employees with a platform to raise issues, solve problems, and work to reduce and eliminate such situations in the first place,” she said. “In my last months in Congress, I will use my power to fight for action and meaningful change.”
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
