CT-05: Elizabeth Esty Not Running For Re-Election After Mishandling Abuse Allegations
Facing a firestorm of criticism for mishandling domestic violence allegations against her since-fired chief of staff, U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty announced she will not run for re-election in November.
In a written statement Monday Esty, a Democrat from Cheshire, said she could have and should have done better after learning that her top adviser had punched and threatened to kill a female staffer in her office who he had once dated.
To the survivor, I want to express my strongest apology for letting you down, she said.
Esty, in her third term, was facing increasing calls to resign, including from fellow Democrats who were appalled that she had kept Tony Baker on staff for three months after being made aware of the allegations against him in May 2016. Baker was ultimately dismissed but not before receiving $5,000 in severance and a recommendation that helped him land a job at the gun-control group Sandy Hook Promise.
http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-esty-wont-run-again-20180402-story.html