Sen. Kevin Grantham
In the wake of accusations that two Republican state Senators – Randy Baumgardner and Jack Tate – are accused of sexual harassment, Senate President Kevin Grantham offered strong words against the mistreatment of women:
“We take every allegation of harassment or misconduct seriously. We ask those who feel they have been victims of harassment or inappropriate behavior at the General Assembly to file an official complaint, in confidence that their anonymity and rights will be protected. Going forward, Senate Republican leaders cannot and will not be responding to unsubstantiated or anonymous allegations against members appearing in the press, which the existing complaint process is designed to handle. This process exists to protect confidentiality, respect the rights of both accuser and accused, rigorously review the facts, give a fair hearing to all sides, and impose penalties proportionate to any confirmed offense. To handle these matters in any other way contradicts the basic tenets of fairness, justice, and due process for which America is known.”
Weird, it’s almost like the Senate Republicans are trying to ensure a fair process and ensure those who are guilty be penalized. That’s the exact opposite of the state House Democrats who, instead of punishing an offender, actually rewarded him with a committee chairmanship after his accuser reported that he harassed her.
Perhaps Democratic Speaker Duran ought to look to Republican Senate President Kevin Grantham for tips on how to handle sexual harassment claims. Just a tip.