ST. PAUL, Minn. -- There is a bipartisan effort by a pair of state lawmakers to change how sexual harassment complaints are handled at the Capitol.
On Monday, Rep. Marion O'Neill (R-Maple Lake) and Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul) introduced proposed changes to the House rules in the wake of recent reports of sexual harassment at the Capitol.
"I have not experienced any kind of sexual harassment here myself at the legislature but when I was in my twenties and much less powerful, and much less vocal, and a different person really, I did experience horrible sexual harassment. The worst kind of sexual harassment. So I'm here today to make sure that that doesn't happen to somebody here," Rep. O'Neill said.
Currently, any two members can bring a complaint to the House Ethics Committee. This plan would allow House members, members of the public, lobbyists, or executive branch officials to file a sexual harassment or discrimination complaint. The proposal includes confidentiality protections for complainants. The complaint would go straight to the majority and minority leaders who would automatically forward it to the House Ethics Committee.
"It requires the Ethics Committee to act on this in a certain amount of time," said Rep. Lesch.
A probable cause hearing would have to be held by the House Ethics Committee no later than 30 days from the filing of the complaint. The complaint would remain private until the Ethics Committee determined probable cause exists.
"If they do find that, then the complaint becomes public and the accuser is protected based on that finding of probable cause. And then there is a full, public vetting and hearing on the merits," Rep. Lesch explained.
Rep. Lesch and Rep. O'Neill believe this process removes partisan bias.
"The last thing we want is for due process to just disappear and it become a political weapon. This assures that both the victim and the accused have due process. They both need due process. They both need justice," Rep. O'Neill said.
When the legislature convenes in February, Rep. Lesch and Rep. O'Neill will push to amend the House rules to include their proposed changes. It will first be looked at by the House Rules Committee.
This proposal comes after Sen. Dan Schoen and Rep. Tony Cornish announced their resignations last month amid claims of sexual harassment. A special election to fill their seats will happen on Feb. 12.