Democratic lawmaker refuses to resign amid harassment scandal

The office of Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Esty (Conn.) said Saturday that the congresswoman will not resign despite mounting calls for her to do so over a sexual harassment scandal within her office. 

The Associated Press reported that Esty’s office said the congresswoman is sticking to a previous statement and will not depart from Congress.

{mosads}The Connecticut lawmaker has been embroiled in a scandal over the handling of accusations against her former chief of staff, Tony Baker. Esty says upon learning that Baker had allegedly harassed a former staffer, she initiated an internal probe and found “the threat of violence was not an isolated incident.”

The culmination of events caused a Connecticut newspaper last week to say Esty should resign, arguing that her choice to have Baker stay on staff for three months shows “she tried to sweep it under the rug.”

Esty apologized in a Facebook post on Thursday detailing the incident, which she said she learned of during the spring of 2016.

“I am sorry that I failed to protect her and provide her with the safe and respectful work environment that every employee deserves,” Esty wrote. “I am sorry that I hurt her, her friends, family, and co-workers, and many of my present and former staffers.”