Latest Breaking News

Jose Garcia

(2,605 posts) Wed Jan 23, 2019, 04:06 PM Jan 2019

Sheila Jackson Lee Leaves 2 Posts After Aide Says She Was Fired for Reporting Sexual Assault

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, facing fallout from a lawsuit claiming she fired an aide who said she was sexually assaulted by a supervisor at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, said on Wednesday she had decided to resign as the foundation’s chairwoman.

Ms. Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat in her 13th term, also stepped aside temporarily from an important House Judiciary subcommittee chairmanship, the committee said.

Ms. Jackson Lee made the decision to step aside from both roles as pressure was growing within her own party to account for the claims in a Jan. 11 lawsuit brought by a woman who worked in her congressional office and who said she was sexually assaulted by a Black Caucus Foundation supervisor. Ms. Jackson Lee has adamantly denied that she fired the woman for retribution after the woman indicated she wanted to pursue legal action, but she planned to say Wednesday that she would step aside nonetheless.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/politics/sheila-jackson-lee-cbc-chairwoman.html

14 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Sheila Jackson Lee Leaves 2 Posts After Aide Says She Was Fired for Reporting Sexual Assault (Original Post) Jose Garcia Jan 2019 OP

Jesus why on earth does someone think this is acceptable? nycbos Jan 2019 #1

Jesus, why does some believe everything they hear (if it is something negative?) McCamy Taylor Jan 2019 #2

So, if the accused is a Democrat, the charge should be discarded? brooklynite Jan 2019 #5

It does separate the Democrats here from poseurs, always has. Conspicuously. Thanks. n/t Judi Lynn Jan 2019 #6

I would think if the charges were baseless, she wouldn't resign her 2 positions. oldsoftie Jan 2019 #7

The CBC Foundation gave her an ultimatum madville Jan 2019 #12

Has #believewomen outlived its usefulness? hughee99 Jan 2019 #14

Thank you for sharing, Joe Garcia. I still admire Lee. She is a strong Democrat. McCamy Taylor Jan 2019 #3

There is also an article on TPM concerning this pecosbob Jan 2019 #4

... orleans Jan 2019 #8

How about this: rusty fender Jan 2019 #10

yes! couldn't find it... n/t orleans Jan 2019 #11

Let the details come out pls before rushing to condemn. brush Jan 2019 #9

There is more to this story than the headlines. allgood33 Jan 2019 #13

nycbos

(6,038 posts)

1. Jesus why on earth does someone think this is acceptable?

Reply to Jose Garcia (Original post)

Wed Jan 23, 2019, 04:14 PM

Jan 2019

Last edited Wed Jan 23, 2019, 05:14 PM - Edit history (1)

McCamy Taylor

(19,240 posts)

2. Jesus, why does some believe everything they hear (if it is something negative?)

Reply to nycbos (Reply #1)

Wed Jan 23, 2019, 04:24 PM

Jan 2019

For all we know, the employee was fired for cause and decided to get back at those who fired her. I understand why the news media wants to (at least pretend to) believe every salacious story. But we at DU have no ulterior motives, do we? We have no vested interest in pushing any particular narrative, especially one aimed at hurting a stalwart Democrat. Do we?

brooklynite

(94,737 posts)

5. So, if the accused is a Democrat, the charge should be discarded?

Reply to McCamy Taylor (Reply #2)

Wed Jan 23, 2019, 06:15 PM

Jan 2019

Keep in mind, we're talking about an actual lawsuit (with the threat of a perjury charge), not an anonymous allegation.

Judi Lynn

(160,630 posts)

6. It does separate the Democrats here from poseurs, always has. Conspicuously. Thanks. n/t

Reply to McCamy Taylor (Reply #2)

Wed Jan 23, 2019, 07:27 PM

Jan 2019

oldsoftie

(12,604 posts)

7. I would think if the charges were baseless, she wouldn't resign her 2 positions.

Reply to McCamy Taylor (Reply #2)

Wed Jan 23, 2019, 10:03 PM

Jan 2019

if all it took to get someone out of a position was file a frivolous lawsuit, we'd be over run with them. Has the CBC spoke out in her defense? No, they gave her the ultimatum to leave or be voted out. They are not a group that gets pushed around. Obviously they think there is a legitimate issue here.

madville

(7,412 posts)

12. The CBC Foundation gave her an ultimatum

Reply to McCamy Taylor (Reply #2)

Thu Jan 24, 2019, 10:49 AM

Jan 2019

She had to resign or she was going to be removed by a vote, sounds like the case has some merit. Doesn't really matter, her district will stay Democratic even if she has to resign her House seat.

hughee99

(16,113 posts)

14. Has #believewomen outlived its usefulness?

Reply to McCamy Taylor (Reply #2)

Thu Jan 24, 2019, 12:13 PM

Jan 2019

I don’t know whether the allegations themselves are true or not but if Lee is stepping down from any positions, I suspect it’s because they were reported to her, and she didn’t handle them well.

McCamy Taylor

(19,240 posts)

3. Thank you for sharing, Joe Garcia. I still admire Lee. She is a strong Democrat.

Reply to Jose Garcia (Original post)

Wed Jan 23, 2019, 04:26 PM

Jan 2019

Just the kind of Democrat Trump would not want on the House judiciary committee. The way he did not want Al Franken in the Senate.

pecosbob

(7,543 posts)

4. There is also an article on TPM concerning this

Reply to Jose Garcia (Original post)

Wed Jan 23, 2019, 04:36 PM

Jan 2019

I lived in Ms. Jackson Lee's district for decades and am sorry to see this. When the news of the lawsuit first came out a month or more ago I saw this coming. I sincerely hope that she is exonerated and I also hope that the days of public officials sweeping employee abuse under the rug are over.

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/jackson-lee-forced-from-leadership-roles-after-lawsuit

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211715208