New York Republican Rep. Tom Reed was implicated by a previous lobbyist of drunkenly rubbing her back, unhooking her bra and moving his hand up her thigh in an Irish bar after a day of ice fishing in Minnesota in 2017, a brand-new report exposed Friday.
The allegation versus Reed by now-U.S. Army Lt. Nicolette Davis as detailed by The Washington Post comes as Reed — co-chair of the so-called bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus in Congress — is thinking about running for guv of New York next year.
Current Gov. Andrew Cuomo has actually been implicated by more than a half-dozen ladies, consisting of a present staffer, of sexually pestering them or otherwise touching or speaking with them wrongly.
And Reed — who rejected Davis’ account as “not accurate” — has actually been amongst those roughly slamming Cuomo, requiring the Democratic guv to resign or be impeached.
The congressman, who represents New York’s 23rd District, for several years has actually been a supporter for ladies who have actually declared sexual attack and misbehavior.
“These incidents of sexual harassment and pattern of abuse are abhorrent and have absolutely no place in our society, let alone the highest rungs of government. Such behavior is disturbing and unacceptable,” Reed stated last month about Cuomo.
Cuomo has actually rejected acting wrongly towards ladies and has actually declined to resign regardless of calls by leading Democrats that he do so.
A spokesperson for Aflac, the insurance provider that utilized Davis as a lobbyist at the time of the event, informed CNBC that Davis notified the business’s management about the event quickly after it took place.
“Aflac takes these allegations very seriously and values above all else the safety, security and dignity of our employees,” the spokesperson stated.
“When this matter was reported to senior leadership and colleagues who were not present at the event, we immediately provided support and counsel for Nicolette, enabling her to determine personally how she wanted to proceed with regard to bringing this deeply troubling experience to light,” the spokesperson stated.
“Nicolette continues to have 100% support from Aflac, as we strongly condemn any form of abuse or harassment.”
Davis informed The Post that she was 25 in 2017 when she felt the then-45-year-old Reed’s hand on her back when she was sitting beside him in a Minneapolis club, after an ice-fishing occasion and associated activities that were benefiting the project committee of then-Rep. Erik Paulsen, a Minnesota Republican.
She informed the paper that Reed appeared intoxicated throughout the fishing occasion, which he had actually slipped and fell on the ice.
Later, while she sat beside him at supper, she informed The Post, Reed’s hands began roaming.
“A drunk congressman is rubbing my back,” Davis stated she texted a colleague that night. “HELP HELP.”
The Post reported that Davis stated she was frozen in worry, however asked an individual resting on her right to assist. That guy pulled Reed far from the table and took him outside the club, she informed the paper.
“Davis’ account of Reed’s actions in 2017 was supported by a person who was at the table that night,” The Post reported.
“The person told The Post Reed was visibly intoxicated and put his hand on Davis’s back before being escorted from the restaurant while the rest of the group remained. That person spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing potential career ramifications.”
The paper likewise estimated the lady whom Davis had actually texted from the bar, Jessica Strieter Elting, who stated Davis explained Reed touching her and unhooking her bra. Strieter Elting handles the political affairs group for Aflac in Washington.
Brad Knox, a senior vice president at Aflac who at the time was counsel to the business, informed The Post that he keeps in mind Davis informing him that Reed had actually been consuming and undoing a post of her clothes.
“I felt like crying because nobody should be subjected to that, especially a new young lobbyist,” Knox informed the paper.
Reed’s workplace provided a declaration to CNBC: “This account of my actions is not accurate,” Reed stated about Davis’ claims. Reed likewise stated, “I stand by my record” of voting on ladies’s concerns.
Davis did not instantly react to an ask for remark by CNBC.
A spokesperson for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., did not instantly react to an e-mail looking for remark.
