Newly Elected House Democrat Admits He Is Under Investigation for Sexual Harassment
A newly elected Democratic congressman is starting his political career with an uncomfortable distraction after acknowledging that he is the subject of a sexual harassment investigation.
Rep.-elect Brian Poindexter, who flipped an Ohio congressional district from Republican to Democrat in November, confirmed Friday that his campaign is cooperating with an investigation into allegations involving a female campaign volunteer.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has hired an independent third-party firm to investigate the allegations, according to statements reported by Politico and CNN.
Poindexter’s campaign acknowledged the investigation but characterized the alleged incident as an innocent interaction that was later perceived differently.
“Brian gave what he thought was an innocuous compliment to a volunteer. He heard later that it made her feel uncomfortable and he felt awful,” a campaign spokesperson told Politico.
The spokesperson added that the campaign immediately began working with an outside human resources firm after learning of the complaint.
“Neither Brian nor the campaign ever wants anyone to feel uncomfortable,” the spokesperson said.
DCCC Executive Director Julie Merz confirmed that the party’s campaign arm had hired an independent firm to examine the allegations.
“The DCCC has been made aware of the allegations and takes them seriously,” Merz said in a statement. She added that the investigation would include interviews and efforts to gather the facts.
“In the interest of fairness to all parties involved,” Merz said, the committee has requested a swift, thorough and transparent investigation.
Neither Politico nor CNN reported specific details of the alleged comments, and the identity of the woman involved has not been made public.
The complaint had apparently raised concerns within Democratic circles before Election Day. The political arms of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition and the Congressional Progressive Caucus withdrew their endorsements of Poindexter around the time of the election.
Both groups said they learned of an alleged sexual harassment incident in the final days of the campaign and alerted the DCCC.
“We informed the DCCC and connected the individual with legal advocacy and support services so she could determine how she wanted to proceed,” the groups said in a joint statement.
They also explained that the woman requested that details not be made public to protect her identity and give her time to consider her next steps.
The groups said they respected that request, but nevertheless decided to withdraw their endorsements pending the investigation’s conclusion.
CNN also reported that Poindexter was not invited to new-member orientations for either the Progressive Caucus or the Blue Dog Coalition.
The controversy comes after Poindexter defeated Republican Rep. Max Miller in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District, a closely watched race.
Poindexter campaigned on an economic populist message, frequently highlighting his background as a union ironworker and his role as a father.
Now, however, the incoming congressman must contend with an investigation before he has even begun serving in the House.
There is an important distinction between being investigated and being guilty of misconduct. The allegations against Poindexter have not been independently established, and the investigation has yet to produce publicly disclosed findings.
Still, having an outside investigation into alleged sexual harassment hanging over a newly elected member’s first days in Washington is hardly an ideal introduction to congressional life.
For Democrats, who are preparing to advance their legislative agenda after November’s electoral victory, the controversy also represents an unwelcome distraction from the party’s efforts to get its new House members settled in.
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