Politics

Dems Won’t Call On Rep. Esty To Resign

(Screenshot/MSNBC)

Amber Athey Podcast Columnist
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Democrats are not calling on Connecticut Rep. Elizabeth Esty to resign, despite seeming to agree she did not do enough to protect her female staffers from an abusive chief of staff.

Esty is calling for an expedited ethics review into the dismissal of her former chief of staff after reports surfaced that accused the congresswoman of shielding him. The chief of staff was kept on Esty’s payroll for months after a female staffer accused him of threatening to kill her and harassing her.

Democratic colleagues have condemned Esty for not dealing with the situation quickly enough, but they have stopped short of calling for her resignation.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi released a statement on Monday calling for an investigation by the Ethics Committee because Esty “did not protect” the female staffer.

“As Congresswoman Esty has acknowledged, her actions did not protect Ms. Kain and should have,” Pelosi said. “Congresswoman Esty has now appropriately requested an expedited review by the Ethics Committee.”

Democratic Rep. John Delaney said Esty is in a “terrible situation” because she “clearly” did not make sure her office was a safe place for her staffers.

He also did not say she should resign, instead advising her to talk to constituents and answer “tough questions” about the “bad situation.”

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According to journalist Mario Boone, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said he is “disappointed” in Esty but also did not ask for her to resign.

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