GOP calls for Dem lawmaker's resignation over harassment 'cover-up'

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY MIKE LILLIS - 03/30/18 01:56 PM EDT

The House Republicans’ campaign arm called Friday for the resignation of Rep. Elizabeth Esty following revelations that the Connecticut Democrat kept a former top-level aide on staff for several months after learning of allegations that he’d harassed and threatened other staffers.

“Elizabeth Esty orchestrated one of the most disturbing Washington cover-ups in recent memory,” Chris Martin, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) said in a brief statement.

“There is no place for someone who protects abusers in Congress, and she should resign immediately.”

Esty has come under fire after reports emerged Thursday that her former chief of staff, Tony Baker, had allegedly punched, berated and threatened to kill another former aide, Anna Kain, whom he had previously dated.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/381017-gop-calls-for-dem-lawmakers-resignation-over-harassment-cover-up

[Farmer-Rick]

1. But it's OK for the president and leader of their party to sleep with porn stars and pay them off

Right before the election while married to a nube model who just had his baby. All the while bragging that he can grab any woman he wants by their private parts. That's a OK by them, just don't let Dems not immediately fire a spouse abuser like the leader of their party.

[bitterross]

2. Response should be: As Soon As 45 Resigns

Tell Martin and the rest of the GOP to go fuck themselves this time.

I sure hope we learned something from the Al Franken take-down and we won't be as easy this time.

[CincyDem]

3. There is no place for someone who protects abusers in Congress, and she should resign immediately.

I agree. And she should be the first one out the door after every Republican standing up for DJT submits their resignation and heads home for a permanent recess.

I'm not for a moment discounting the significance of these reports but the hypocrisy is overwhelming.

[Mr. Ected]

4. Talk, meet walk.

If the facts corroborate these accusations, then she needs to go. Democrats cannot be perceived as hypocrites.

I think that's one of the reasons Al Franken was disposed of so readily. Too bad he was denied due process, because the punishment certainly didn't fit the alleged crime.

On edit: Any resignation should be preceded by a vociferous Democratic position statement, listing the known Republican abusers and calling for their immediate resignations as well. Let the hypocrisy be stated on the record.

[Demit]

11. You can read the facts at this link:

https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Esty-under-scrutiny-over-handling-of-alleged-abuse-12791993.php#photo-15310037

Facts are good things to know.

[Mr. Ected]

12. Tell that to the OP. The facts you presented were not included in the original post.

However, the article that you linked to certainly diminishes her culpability. If she's forced to resign, it's due to an abundance of caution to avoid hypocrisy. It would be a borderline call, to be sure. And just like David Hogg told Laura Ingraham yesterday, I'll accept your apology when you condemn the attacks by FOX on my schoolmates. In this case, we'll consider punitive action as soon as you clean up your own house, GOP.

[DonViejo]

14. Did you read the entire article at The Hill or, just the paragraphs excerpted in the OP?

[Mr. Ected]

15. Just the synopsis. No offense intended, DV.

[Demit]

17. Apparently I have to tell them to you. Or remind you to read further for them,

before you make your pronouncements. Jesus.

[Mr. Ected]

18. Peace. I'm at home sick with the flu and I erred.

Do remember we're on the same side.

Jesus.

[Demit]

19. Poor baby. Feel better.

[Mr. Ected]

20. Hum me a lullaby and I might just go sleepy sleep.

No actually, I'm sorry. I need to be more careful before I post. I usually am. You were right to call me on it.

[Cha]

21. ..

Yeah, feel better, Mr.Ected.

[Wwcd]

5. Hypocrits. Clean up your own first:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210433117

WaPo: Two Top Staffers In WH Personnel Office Have Several Past Arrests


Thank you DonViejo.

[KPN]

6. But of course the GOP does. Why not?

They usually make it happen with ample assist from our own. Hope we've learned a lesson, but I'm betting not. Here's why: going high is the right thing to do in most circumstances. But we are dealing with extraordinary circumstances these days. Circumstances that involve the GOP trying to pull a coup d'etat and extinguish the Democratic Party as a viable institution in the process-- with the help of Russia no less.

Now is not the time to let principles get in the way of survival.

[Downtown Hound]

7. Sure, right after every single one of you resign for protecting Trump.

[bucolic_frolic]

8. All who are protecting that abuser in the White House should resign immediately

You know who you are, Congressional Republicans. Let's put pen to paper and get 'er done!

Oh. I didn't think you really meant it. Hypocrites!

[shraby]

9. I agree with you bucolic.

[Demit]

10. You should follow the link to the CT Post story, it gives an idea of the timeline of events.

From what I can tell:

It seems most of the abusive behavior had taken place in 2014, at the office. The woman left her job in March 2015. A year later, she attended a reunion of former and current staffers at a Capitol Hill bar on May 5, 2016, where another abusive incident took place.

When Esty heard about the May 5 2016 incident, she commissioned an investigation that showed a pattern of abusive behavior. She fired Baker on July 20, 2016.

This isn't a coverup, as I understand coverups. Esty fired the guy. I don't know when she learned of the incident; I don't know how long investigations take, or are supposed to take, but she fired him less than 3 months after the incident itself. She gave him a good job recommendation and severance pay—I guess you can fault her for that, but consider that she had consulted the Office of House Employment Counsel, which has a process for removing staffers in such cases. Esty said that the job recommendation was an “outgrowth of the House counsel’s recommendation to reach a nondisclosure agreement with Baker and ease his transition into the world outside Capitol Hill.”

I think this is another hyperbolic overreaction by the GOP, designed to distract from Trump problems. And it's against a woman, you'll note. I don't see any reason she should be pressured to resign.

[Rebl2]

13. So why

aren’t they demanding the most abusive bully in Washington resign?

[forgotmylogin]

16. Point is, she actually DID IT.

Republicans complain of "rush to judgment" then complain how long Mueller is taking.

Do they really want to open the can of worms about staffers with abuse in their past not getting fired several years after the fact? Do they really want to push the concept that there is no statute of limitations or "innocent until proven guilty" with regard to domestic abuse?