Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin sanctioned for workplace harassment

[brooklynite]

Source: Albany Times-Union

ALBANY — Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, the Rensselaer County executive-elect, has been sanctioned by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for his actions related to a June 2016 incident in which a female Assembly aide accused him of asking her to provide nude photos.

The incident involved an aide to Assemblyman Andy Goodell, a Republican from Jamestown, who said McLaughlin approached her on the floor of the Assembly and made inappropriate comments.

The sanctions, handed down Wednesday morning, followed a more than year of investigation by an independent outside counsel into "offensive lewd comments" McLaughlin made to the female Assembly staffer.

The Assembly's Ethics Committee initially reported to Heastie in June that it was split on whether the alleged sexual harassment took place but recommended that McLaughlin receive additional harassment training. McLaughlin agreed to undergo that training and did so in July.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Assemblyman-Steve-McLaughlin-sanctioned-for-12391743.php

[Thor_MN]

1. Party affiliation noted only by the R after his name in the caption of the photo.

Nowhere in the text of the article does it mention that McLaughlin is a Republican. No wonder the Republicans believe that only the Democratic Party has a sexual misconduct issue when the media hides the affiliation of Rethug pervs.

[sandensea]

2. Hear, hear.

Whenever it's a Democrat being accused, it's almost always "Democrat so-and-so slammed with sexual harrassment allegations" (lots of hyperbole and use of the word 'sexual').

When it's a Republican, it's "Congressman (or whatever the office title) so-and-so facing allegations of harrassment" (heavy use of the passive voice, and other couching devices).

[brooklynite]

3. In fairness, this is the Albany newspaper; they assume everyone knows the details

[Thor_MN]

4. They felt a need to identify the party of the Assemblyman whose aide was the target...

It appears when it comes to the victim side, the party is relevant. Identifying the offender, not so much...

[Judi Lynn]

5. Gee, it's so hot in here, why don't you take off your suit, Assemblyman Steve?

No sense in being so formal!

It's possible Bill O'Reilly would be willing to loufah your back while you cool off with him in a nice shower.