Scandal-scarred Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., announced Monday she will not seek re-election after conceding she let her chief of staff stay on the job for months after learning about allegations that he had harassed a former colleague.
Facing calls for her resignation from state Democrats — as well as national Republicans — Esty, who was up for re-election in November, said in a statement her decision was "in the best interest of my constituents and my family," The Washington Post reported.
Esty learned of alleged misconduct by her former chief of staff, Tony Baker, but let him stay on the job in 2016, The Connecticut Mirror reported. The allegations against Baker included punching another staffer whom he had dated, Anna Kain, and sending her threatening phone messages and texts.
Esty gave Baker a job recommendation and $5,000 severance and signed a non-disclosure agreement concerning the details of his termination, the Mirror reported.
"Too many women have been harmed by harassment in the workplace," Esty's statement read, the Post reported. "In the terrible situation in my office, I could have and should have done better. To the survivor, I want to express my strongest apology for letting you down. . . . In my final months in Congress, I will use my power to fight for action and meaningful change."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., earlier in the day endorsed a call by Esty for the House Ethics Committee to conduct an expedited review of her handling of the chief of staff's departure. Pelosi did not call on Esty to resign.
The three-term congresswoman came under fire last week after news outlets revealed Baker verbally abused and on one occasion punched Kain in their Capitol Hill office in 2014.
Baker, through friend and spokesman Andrew Ricci, denied he punched Kain but did not challenge her other allegations, the Post reported.
Esty said she first learned of Baker's alleged behavior in May 2016 after he left Kain, who by then had departed the office, a voice mail saying "You better f***ing reply to me or I will f***ing kill you," the Post reported, citing a copy of the message it had been provided by Kain.
After leaving Esty's staff in August 2016, Baker used a letter of recommendation he co-wrote with Esty to obtain a job at Sandy Hook Promise, a group created after the 2012 shooting in Esty's district.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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