Sánchez, Other Female Lawmakers Allege Harassment By Congressional Colleagues

The AP is out this morning with a report that several female congressional lawmakers, including Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA), have experienced sexual harassment from fellow congressional colleagues. “When I was a very new member of Congress in my early 30s, there was a more senior member who outright propositioned me, who was married, and despite trying to laugh it off and brush it aside it, would repeat. And I would avoid that member,” said Sánchez. She made it a point to warn other female members about the lawmaker in question, but she declined to name him. “The problem is, as a member there’s no HR department you can go to, there’s nobody you can turn to. Ultimately they’re employed by their constituents.” She did say that he remains in Congress. The other three women, including former Senator Barbara Boxer and former Congresswomen Mary Bono andHilda Solís, declined to name the perpetrators but did say that at least two of the men continue to serve in the House. They say they were subjected to lewd comments, repeated unwanted advances, and in one case, groping. None of the female lawmakers officially reported the incidents, with some saying they were unclear of the process to even lodge a complaint. Some shared the incidents with friends or aides, and some instances were witnessed by other colleagues. See the full story here.