Along with the Allegations, Lawmakers Must Address the Environment that Enabled the Alleged Behavior

Buried in the multiple accusations of indecency from Dickinson Rep. Luke Simons to the female staff at the North Dakota Capitol was another revelation that must be addressed. No formal complaint has been filed because staff didn’t feel Republican legislative leadership was taking the situation seriously. There needs to be a change to prevent anything similar from happening.

Following the file full of complaints becoming public, Simons took to his phone and recorded a rambling denial of the multiple allegations from multiple women. He tried to paint himself as the victim of some elaborate three-year-long plot by “liberal democrats” to take him down for being “effective.” His claims are as believable as Rep. Jim Kasper saying his Facebook was hacked multiple times by someone to post multiple racist memes on his page over the last three years.

First, one of the allegations from staff was corroborated by Republican Rep. Brandy Pyle. Not exactly a “liberal democrat.” Second, can anyone point to what Simons has accomplished in the Legislature for him to claim he is being targeted for being effective? Lastly, until February 25th few people in the general public likely knew who Simons was. Why would they? Well, they do now because of the multiple claims of harassment and his unwelcome behavior. Yet, his colleagues and his leadership knew him and of the behavior. That cannot be ignored.

Buried in the 14-page complaint against Simons, were details and a timeline that also needs our attention. Legislative staff who felt harassed have yet to file a formal complaint against Simons. The documents claim that is because the staff didn’t believe they had the support of other legislators. That claim was reported in February of 2021. Two years before that revelation, in March of 2019, those same records claim Assistant House Majority Leader Scott Louser from Minot questioned whether the victim did anything to give Simons the impression she would welcome his “advances.” No wonder the staff didn’t feel like other legislators were taking this harassment seriously.

Read more: https://ndxplains.com/2021/02/26/along-with-the-allegations-lawmakers-must-address-the-environment-that-enabled-the-alleged-behavior/