Texas Lawmakers Accused Of Sexual Misconduct Since 2017

Austin TX

05 May, 2021

11:00 AM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — Two Texas lawmakers are among more than 100 across the country now accused of sexual misconduct in the four years since the onset of the national "#MeToo" reckoning in 2017, according to data collected by The Associated Press. The state lawmakers are among other politicians, entertainers and business leaders exposed in the social justice movement to end sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The movement began in 2017 when movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, now a convicted sex offender, was accused by more than 80 women of sexual misconduct allegations dating back to the late 1970s. The AP compiled the database as part of its ongoing coverage of how politicians are responding to sexual misconduct claims. It includes state lawmakers only. It doesn't include members of Congress or other elected officials investigated regarding sexual misconduct claims — notably New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is embroiled in a sexual harassment investigation, or Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was initially investigated in connection with sex trafficking and now faces a larger review into public corruption. Some of the allegations against state lawmakers are no less serious. Nationally, more than 40 of the accused state lawmakers have resigned or were expelled from office, and at least as many others faced other repercussions, including the loss of committee leadership positions, The AP reported. A handful were cleared. The lawmakers included in the database are predominantly men, but a couple of women also have been accused of sexual misconduct. Both Democrats and Republicans are the subjects of what could be career-ending investigations. In Texas: Sen. Boris Miles, a Democrat, has been accused of sexually propositioning an intern in 2013 when Miles was a state House member, according to a December 2017 report by the Daily Beast. Miles refused calls to resign from a group that backs female Democratic candidates. Sen. Charles Schwertner, a Republican, has been accused of sending a sexually explicit image and text message to a University of Texas graduate student he had met at a campus event during the summer of 2018. A university report released in December 2018 concluded Schwertner didn't violate school policies but added that he didn't fully cooperate in an investigation. The report said an attorney told investigators that the messages were sent by an undisclosed person who had access to Schwertner's account. About three-fourths of the states have passed some 75 laws and resolutions over the past two years that target sexual harassment, abuse or assault in government or in private business. About half the states renewed or extended deadlines to pursue criminal charges or civil lawsuits over childhood sexual abuse. In Texas, legislation includes HB 3809, which extends the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits involving sex offenses against children until the victim turns age 48, instead of 33. It was signed in 2019. States also updated their sexual harassment policies and required training of lawmakers on appropriate workplace conduct. At least 45 House chambers and 43 Senate chambers now require legislators to receive training on appropriate workplace conduct and on preventing, identifying and reporting sexual misconduct. About half of state legislative chambers have turned to independent investigators to look into complaints of sexual misconduct and harassment by lawmakers. Texas requires training for state lawmakers. The training is required in house, senate and internal and external investigations for both the house and senate.