Oregon lawmaker faces expulsion over harassment reports; resignation urged

(Update: Adding House committee vote for expulsion)

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The conduct committee of the Oregon House of Representatives voted Friday in favor of expelling one of its members for alleged sexual harassment and asked the full House to make a decision.

The fate of Rep. Diego Hernandez, a Democrat from Portland and considered a rising political star, hangs in the balance.

A resolution passed by the House Committee on Conduct says “Hernandez has engaged in disorderly behavior."

According to the Oregon Constitution, a member of the House can be expelled if at least two-thirds of its members vote in favor. 

Earlier Friday, Hernandez, who allegedly harassed three women faced increasing pressure to resign, as Gov. Kate Brown and legislative leaders said he should step down immediately.

Brown diverted from her news conference about COVID-19 to say Rep. Diego Hernandez’s behavior has been “unacceptable.”

House Speaker Tina Kotek has also called for Hernandez’s resignation, as did Senate President Peter Courtney and Senate Majority Leader Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) and 26 fellow lawmakers in a joint statement.

Hernandez is accused of trying to rekindle consensual romances with three women, despite their telling him they weren’t interested.

The House Committee on Conduct found that two of the women felt that rebuffing his advances would adversely affect their business before the Legislature.

Brown noted that an investigation found that Hernandez created an "intimidating and hostile enviroment," and called the "women who came forward courageous and brave."

"If this were any other workplace, Representative Hernandez would have already been shown the door," she said. "Quite simply, his behavior is unacceptable for anyone, let alone an elected official. He should resign immediately."

Wagner said, “We must believe survivors. I commend the bravery of those who came forward in this investigation as well as the resilience of all survivors of harassment and abuse. We must be unequivocal in our stance against abusive behavior, and I take seriously my role in maintaining the Capitol as a safe and supportive work environment.

“In the statement made by Representative Hernandez, which was shared on social media, he wrote, ‘These rifts in the legislature are distracting us from important work that must be done.’ Representative Hernandez must take responsibility to remove this ‘distraction’ by resigning immediately. If he refuses to resign, the House of Representatives should vote to expel him.” 

Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kate-brown-oregon-9029505b8a6b4b10eec0f294b64d1052

In a letter to lawmakers and the House panel, Kevin Lafky, the attorney for Hernandez, claimed its investigation and hearings have not followed legal requirements for due process, including "a meaningul opportunity to respond and rebut the allegations."

Lafky claims they "presented evidence that directly rebuts testimony that you have heard this week, and important evidence regarding the subjects has been withheld from you."