Multiple women in the Michigan Senate are speaking up against what they call the “good ‘ol boy’s club” that exists within the Michigan Legislature. Claims of inappropriate sexual comments, lingering touches, and uncomfortable innuendoes have been cropping up like mushrooms after a heavy rain. And it all started with State Senator Mallory McMorrow, who recently filed a sexual harassment complaint against Senator Peter Lucido.
What exactly is McMorrow claiming happened between her and Lucido?
According to McMorrow, during an orientation session in 2018, Lucido placed his hand on her lower back and upper buttocks area, scanned her body with his eyes, and then made an inappropriate comment about her looks. During a press conference, McMorrow explained that Lucido “Shook my hand, put a hand on the low of my back, grazing my hip and upper rear, and held it there. He asked who I had run against. I said I beat my opponent. And his response was, ‘I could see why.’”
Why did McMorrow wait so long to make her claims public?
Although the encounter took place in 2018, McMorrow said she chose not to speak up at the time. It wasn’t until she read the story written by 22-year-old Michigan Advance journalist Allison Donahue. Donahue was interviewing Lucido when he allegedly made the comment that she could “have a lot of fun” with a group of schoolboys who were visiting the Michigan Capitol. “Or they could have a lot of fun with you!” he is alleged to have added. Donahue was not amused, and published the comments in her story.
Several women have spoken up about similar experiences since then.
In the same way that McMorrow says that Donohue’s story galvanized her to speak up, several other women working in and around the legislature have shared similar stories. Senator Rosemary Bayer of Beverly Hills has backed McMorrow, saying that she saw Lucido put his hand on the new lawmaker, and Bayer’s husband has confirmed that she even commented on it at the time to him. But Lucido isn’t the only male legislator in the crosshairs now.
Several women are saying this is standard practice in Lansing’s Capitol
State Representative Laurie Pohutsky spoke up on Twitter, claiming this was par for the course among some Michigan lawmakers. “Sen. Lucido’s comments to [Donahue] are a prime example of the sexism and harassment my female colleagues and I face on a daily basis.” she wrote, “I applaud Allison for having the courage to call out his indefensible comments.” Emily Schwarzkopf, a former staffer for House Democrats, also took to twitter to share her experiences, which she said were very similar to Donohue’s. Since then, several other women have spoken up about the sexual harassment they encountered working in Michigan’s Capitol.
Sexual assault and harassment claims are very professionally damaging!
Being accused of sexually assaulting or harassing someone in the workplace can have a devastating impact on your career, not to mention your personal life. Although Senator Lucido has denied the claims against him, he is still suffering the effects of being labelled a sexual predator in the workplace, and likely always will. If you or a loved one are accused of sex crimes in the workplace, or anywhere else for that matter, call The Kronzek Firm at 866 766 5245. Our experienced sex crime defense attorneys are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to defend your personal and preofessional reputation and rights.