Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence’s Chief of Staff, Dwayne Marshall resigned today following multiple sexual harassment allegations.
Congresswoman Lawrence says her office will “move forward with an investigation focused on the current and future climate of our workplace.”
Lawrence is a Democrat who represents part of Detroit and some of its neighboring suburbs.
She recently introduced legislation that would make sexual harassment training mandatory for all Congressional staffers.
But Politico reports that three former Lawrence staffers say Marshall, her now former chief of staff, had a long history of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior.
The women told the news site this month that Lawrence knew about Marshall’s behavior, but tolerated it. Lawrence recently denied knowing about any specific sexual harassment allegations.
More from Politico:
Each believed they made it clear to Lawrence that women in the office did not feel comfortable around Marshall or that he treated women differently than men. Two said they told her Marshall was the reason they were leaving her office. And one said she specifically cited “inappropriate” comments and physical contact.
Lawrence has now accepted Marshall’s resignation.
In a statement, Lawrence pledged a thorough “workplace assessment” at all her congressional offices saying
“Validating an environment of zero tolerance for harassment of any kind is a high priority of mine,” Lawrence said.
