The idea that prominent figures on the left would be guilty of sexual harassment and abuse of women doesn’t really play well into the left’s narrative of gender equality and better treatment of women. Yet when the floodgates of sexual harassment claims recently blew open, it was mostly liberal politicians and celebrities that found themselves under fire. Now, yet another liberal politician is in the crosshairs after he sued a staffer he had sex with when she threatened to go public with claims that she was exposed to a hostile work environment.
Al Green, a Democratic representative out of Texas was accused by his onetime district director Lucinda Daniels of perpetuating a hostile work environment and sexual harassment. The staffer demanded Rep. Green pay $1.8 million in reparations, and, in response, he sued her.
In documents that Green filed in a federal court, Green said, “Daniels has threatened to go public with her complaints if the Congressman does not pay her money. Green has done nothing wrong and refuses to pay ‘hush money’ just for political expediency. Green will not be extorted or blackmailed by Daniels. He will not be the victim of a shakedown by Daniels and her agents. Green demands vindication of his actions and now sues Daniels for declaratory judgment relief relating to her workplace allegations and her quest for money.”
In his suit against her, Green also claimed that Daniels was a drug addict and submitted a recording of her allegedly buying and using cocaine. The recording was obtained when Daniels accidentally called Green while she was making a drug purchase. On the recording, “Daniels is heard ‘snorting’ the cocaine immediately before questioning whether it was ‘cut’ with some other substance and being assured that it was “straight off the ki[lo] … Daniels asks for the purchase price of the drugs, which she calls her ‘Tuesday special’ price. In response, the drug dealer sells her the drugs for $40.”
Daniels claims, though, that not long after Green confronted her about her drug use that he began to retaliate against her in the workplace because she refused to continue sexual relations with him. Green said that these claims were false.
All of these incidents, including Green suing Daniels, took place almost a decade ago, and, at the time, the story garnered very little media attention. However, in light of all the recent allegations of sexual harassment, Green apparently felt the need to get out in front of things by releasing this joint statement with Lucinda Daniels:
“In the present climate, we wish to jointly quiet any curious minds about our former and present relationship with one another. We are friends, and have long been friends. At an unfortunate time in our lives, when both of our feelings were hurt, we hastily made allegations and charges against one another that have been absolutely resolved.
This matter has been resolved without payment of any money or transfer of any consideration of any kind by either of us to the other. As friends, we have both agreed that we see no need to make further statements regarding this absolutely resolved matter.”
It’s difficult to know where to side on this matter. Like anyone else, Rep. Green deserves the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. However, claims of sexual harassment cannot be taken lightly, especially in today’s political climate. Given Daniels’ willingness to sign the joint statement she and Green released, it would appear that, one way or another, this issue was resolved. However, that alone falls short of proving the innocence of either Green or Daniels.
If nothing else, this story shows that those on the left are far from being immune to claims of sexual harassment and assault. As much as they would like to pin this wave of sexual harassment claims on toxic masculinity and the ideologies of the right, the truth is that these crimes are not limited to one party or the other.
While there is certainly the possibility of sexual harassment and assault claims being used for political expediency, that doesn’t change the fact that there is a purge taking place in Washington and Hollywood, and a lot of disturbing facts are starting to come to light.
~ American Liberty Report
