The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokesman Chris Martin issued a statement Friday calling on Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., to resign over reports that she kept a former aide on staff despite learning about harassment allegations.
"Elizabeth Esty orchestrated one of the most disturbing Washington cover-ups in recent memory, Martin said in a statement, The Hill reported.
"There is no place for someone who protects abusers in Congress, and she should resign immediately," the statement read.
Reports emerged Thursday that Esty's former chief of staff Tony Baker had allegedly punched and threatened to kill another former aide. When Esty learned about the allegations, she demanded that Baker seek counseling. About three months after the allegations emerged, Baker left the office with a $5,000 severance payment and a recommendation from Esty, The Connecticut Mirror reported.
"None of our staff deserve to be harassed or treated with disrespect as some of my staff were," Esty said in a letter to Democratic colleagues.
J.R. Romano, the head of Connecticut's Republican Party, also called for Esty to resign, according to the Mirror.
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