The Latest: Lawmaker: Sexual harassment reports are false

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

The Latest: Lawmaker: Sexual harassment reports are false

Updated 5:37 pm, Thursday, July 14, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Latest on an investigative report finding a Tennessee lawmaker sexually harassed at least 22 women at the Capitol (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

A Tennessee lawmaker accused of sexually harassing at least 22 women says nearly all of the allegations in an attorney general's office report are either false or taken out of context.

Republican state Rep. Jeremy Durham told reporters Thursday that he has never attempted sexual contact with any of the women in the report. Durham also said he was suspending his re-election campaign to focus on his family. But he stopped short of resigning or saying he would refuse to serve if elected.

Early primary voting starts Friday, so Durham's name is already on the ballot.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/The-Latest-Tenn-Senate-leader-says-harassment-8378624.php

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Rep. Jeremy Durham

[Night Watchman]

1. Gawd-Fearing and Church-Going

Every single Sunday, I bet.

[salin]

2. 22 women had a "misunderstanding"? er... good luck with that defense.

Welcome to the post-Bill Cosby 'listening to rather than rejecting all complaints' era. You are in good company - Roger Ailes has made a mountain of money - but his apparent long-standing behavior is also catching up with him.

My strongest sympathies sent to the recipients of his harassment (the victims), and also to his family which was not party to his actions, but probably also has been negatively effected by his extreme view of/participation in objectification of women, and now how to deal with the aftermath.

[MADem]

3. He looks so much like a 21st century Caligula, with that squirrelly

"forward comb" -- all he needs is to cut his bangs straight across and he'll be a great third wheel in a DUMB AND DUMBER movie.

[ret5hd]

4. "...nearly all of the allegations in an attorney general's office report are either false...

or taken out of context."

Nearly all, eh? But not all.

Reminds me of an old Onion headline: Child Abuse: How Much Is Too Much?

[yellowcanine]

7. Yeah, I don't think "nearly all" works as a denial of sexual harassment.

And "taken out of context" does not work either. In what context is sexual harassment okay?

[Judi Lynn]

5. In Explicit Report, Investigators Find Rep. Jeremy Durham Harassed 22 Women Around The Legislature

In Explicit Report, Investigators Find Rep. Jeremy Durham Harassed 22 Women Around The Legislature
By Chas Sisk • Jul 13, 2016



Investigators have found that state Rep. Jeremy Durham repeatedly made sexual advances with staffers and lobbyists and carried out an affair in his office with a young political volunteer. But state lawmakers are not recommending expelling him from the legislature, because they say only voters can keep him out permanently.

Investigators say that since he first arrived in the state Capitol in 2013, the Franklin Republican has made sexually suggestive comments, sent late-night texts and tried to arrange drinks with women working in and around Legislative Plaza. He frequently told them of marital difficulties and urged them to give him their personal contact information.

They call it a "pattern of conduct ... that was sexual in nature and not related to business of the House."

The women told investigators Durham's status as a budding star in the Republican caucus meant they would have put themselves at risk if they refused his advances or complained to legislative leaders. One who did refuse him told investigators she came to work the next day to find rumors circulating that she'd gone home with Durham — something she emphatically denied.

More:
http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/explicit-report-investigators-find-rep-jeremy-durham-harassed-22-women-around-legislature#stream/0

[Angry Dragon]

6. the best part --- nearly all