Democratic state rep threatens to leave party over handling of harassment investigation – KGW.com

The handling of a harassment investigation into Rep. Diego Hernandez has caused tension among Democrats.

PORTLAND, Ore An independent investigation found that Oregon State Representative Diego Hernandezlikely created hostile work environment for two women at theOregon StateCapitol after they tried to end romantic relationships with him.

The reportis dated January 22 and was first reported publicly by OPB on Monday.

On Tuesday, the handling of the investigation and allegations against Hernandez caused such tension among the Democratic Caucus that one state representative said hes likely to change his party affiliationto independentas soon as tomorrow.

In a phone interview, Rep. Mark Meek (D-Clackamas County) said there was a high chance hed leave the party over this process. Between one and ten? Its an eight,he saidof the likelihood hellleave the Democratic party.

Meek said heand other frustratedDemocrats, whom he refused to name, support the women who raised concerns aboutHernandez. They also support the investigation into his behavior, the findings of which will be turned over to the House Committee on Conduct next week.

What they dont support, he said, was House leadershipspecifically Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland)publicizing the investigation into Rep. Hernandez, calling for him to resign and removing him from committee hearings before thefullprocess played out.

Meek saidpassing premature judgment on Hernandez and enacting punishments, as a result, is an example of what can go wrong in a supermajority.

The system is broken, and they were out for Diego without due process, Meek said. Ive been wrestling with this, watching and witnessing what our caucus means, what the supermajority means, and Ive been in the supermajority. But do I think its healthy? NoDo I think our average citizen is heard and respected? No.

Meek said he had read the summary of the report into Hernandezs conduct but not the full 33-page report.

KotekcalledforHernandez to resign camein May of last year after the states Legislative Equity Officer and an independent investigator recommended that leaders take immediate actions to protect Hernandezs accusers.

In response to Meeks claims, Kotek said via email The conduct committee is evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. This isnt about politics. Its about upholding a safe working environment in the Capitol. To suggest otherwise is offensive.

The frustrations boiled over a day afterOPBfirstreportedthenews that theoutside investigation found Hernandez likely created a hostile work environment for two women at the Capitol after they tried to end romantic relationships with him. Investigators found both women felt their careers were in jeopardy because of the breakups.

One of the women told investigatorsthatafter she tried to end things, Hernandez texted and called frequently, left flowers on her car at the Capitol and showed up at her home unannounced, prompting her to hide in her closetwhere he couldnt see her.Eventually, the woman told investigators, Hernandez stopped texting about their relationship and started sending texts criticizing her work performance.

The investigation also found a third woman had reason to feel uncomfortable working around him after their relationship ended. Investigators wrote the representative sent her texts that could reasonably be interpreted as controlling and abusive.

None of the womenarenamedin the investigation.

Hernandez, who won reelection in 2020, issued a statement on the investigation Tuesday. It read in part, Dating when you are young is hard. Some dating relationships do not end definitively, but rather slip away over time. There is often some confusion, mixed signals, and strained emotions. To anyone I made uncomfortable in my personal life, I sincerely apologize.

Thestaterepresentative went on to say he comes from poverty and a lot of trauma and it has taken me a long time to understand, grow and learn from it.

He ended the statement by saying he looks forward to presenting his rebuttal at next weeks conduct hearing, writing Too often we have seen the conduct rules politicized, cases tried in the press, and punishment meted by leadership before investigations are complete in reality its afear-basedsystem that traumatizes all sides inanunreasonably lengthy process that has no basis or intent in restorative, reconciliatory, or transformative justice.

Kotek issued a statement on the investigation as well, writing I believed [the women] then and I believe them now. Im focused on doing everything I can to ensure the Capitol is a safe working environment and that people can do their work without the threat of harassment or retaliation.

The investigation into Hernandezs conduct is one of the first after lawmakers completed a massive overhaul of the states reporting and vetting system when it came to complaints about harassment in the workplace. That overhaul stemmed from a watershed moment in 2019 when a series of complaints from nine women who worked at the Capitol resulted in a $1.1 million settlement.

This is not Rep. Hernandezs first run-in with accusations of this type. Hetook a leave of absence from the Legislature after domestic violence allegations against him were made public earlier this year.

A woman he had dated and lived with between January and April 2019 wrote he was prone to violent outbursts, including throwing things at her while under the influence. She said that he usually mixed alcohol, narcotic pills and marijuana.

That woman, whom KGW is not naming, later requested a dismissal for the order after what she called intimidation tactics from Rep. Hernandez. She declined to comment for this story.

See the rest here:

Democratic state rep threatens to leave party over handling of harassment investigation - KGW.com