Former aide: ‘No reason to believe’ Dem rep would’ve acted on harassment complaints

A former staffer in one of Rep. Brad Sherman’s (D-Calif.) offices said “there’s no reason to believe” the congressman would have acted on sexual harassment complaints. 

A report published Tuesday by McClatchy details accounts from multiple former aides, who said the environment in the offices discouraged staffers from filing complaints.

Matt Dababneh, a California assemblyman who once served as a top aide to Sherman, has been accused of sexual misconduct from his time working for the California congressman.

{mosads}“Congressman Sherman showed zero interest in the personal well-being of his staffers and there’s no reason to believe he would have cared or taken any action if a complaint was made,” an ex-staffer told McClatchy. 

Dababneh said earlier this month that he would resign from the state legislature in light of the accusations. 

The report comes as Capitol Hill’s handling of sexual harassment comes under scrutiny. Several lawmakers in Congress have resigned in recent weeks over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Sherman, in a statement to McClatchy, refuted the idea that the way he ran his office assisted in keeping Dababneh’s alleged actions under wraps.

“Throughout media, business and government, employers with a wide variety of different procedures and managerial styles have found that women were reluctant to come forward,” Sherman said.