A Connecticut Democrat is urged to resign after reports were revealed that she let her former chief of staff continue to work for her office for months — despite knowing of allegations that he physically harmed and threatened to “kill” another staffer, Fox News informed.
U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty was harshly criticized Thursday after a report in the Connecticut Post said that her former chief of staff, Tony Baker, allegedly called a young female staffer, with whom he had a romantic relationship, nearly 50 times on May 5, 2016, and had once punched her in the back in Esty’s Washington office.
An affidavit obtained by the Post said the woman, Anna Kain – who has since gone public – felt “intimidated” by Baker, which led her to keep quiet for fear of jeopardizing her own safety.
“Throughout the Winter of 2014, respondent (Baker) repeatedly screamed at petitioner (the former staffer) in the workplace, making the woman feel intimidated and caused petitioner to feel she could not report respondent’s actions without putting her safety at risk,” the affidavit says.
Kain also revealed a copy of a threatening voicemail that Baker left on her phone to the Washington Post.
“You better f—–g reply to me or I will f—–g kill you,” Baker said on the night that he reportedly attempted to reach Kain nearly 50 times.
Esty got to know the seriousness of the situation within a week but, rather than fire the man, she met with lawyers.
Those emails revealed that Esty met with Kain, who gave a detailed description of the alleged sexual harassment and abuse that she said took place throughout 2014.
But Baker remained on Esty’s staff for three months and even accompanied her to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.
He sent an email Aug. 12, 2016, announcing his departure.
Documents provided by Esty to the Post further revealed that after his departure, Baker was given a letter of recommendation, multiple secrecy provisions surrounding his reasons for leaving and a severance payment of $5,000.
Be the first to comment