I said no, five times. Five times. Not once, not twice, five times.

I used all the tools women have to say

no. I laughed it off, I told him to go home to his girlfriend, I said no directly. Nothing worked. Each time I
said no he became angrier, he stood closer, he stood over me. I felt unsafe. I needed help and I found
that help in my friend and colleague from Denver. I called that friend over, asked him for help because I
didn’t know how to get out of the situation. That friend has stood with me for nearly two years through
this process and I am grateful.

But today is not just about me this is about at least 10 other people 10 others spoke to a reporter, 5
others filed complaints, 3 went on record with the media, plus the several other women that I have
talked to that were harassed by this individual who were too scared to come forward.. 10 others that
have felt their hearts race, felt intimidated and have felt bullied by this individual. 10 others that their
place of work was changed forever. Today is not about sex it is about power. Sexual harassment is about
power and the power that that this individual wielded over others.

You need to know that I believe in second chances. Which is why I went through a process in 2016 with
leadership. The results were that this individual would seek counseling and stop drinking but what was
most important to me was a promise that this behavior would stop.

I believe that it is incumbent upon each and every one of us that put on our black name badges, and
answer to Representative and take an oath to do our duties that we create an environment that makes
sure this building, this chamber is truly the people’s house. That our very democracy is based on
people’s comfort to talk to us, to share opinions to shape policy.

In 2016 when I spoke with leadership II was standing up for all women that work in this building, to
ensure that their voices were held is just as high regard as anyone’s else’s voice. I wasn’t motivated by a
vendetta I was motivated to make sure our democracy worked and that women’s voices were
valued.That someone in a position of power that used his power for sexual favors was not okay, that in
this building when a woman showed up for work she was valued for her hard work and her ideas.

Coming forward and changed how I worked in this building. I feared I would face the anger and wrath
of this individual but if that is what it took to change behavior I was willing to do that. I stopped going to
my office, I changed my behavior in this building and at events to avoid contact and was always on the
lookout. That was a sacrifice I was willing to make to ensure this building, that this building was open to
everyone I was willing to do that, so long as I knew the behavior had changed and others were not being
hurt.

Unfortunately, last November I found out that the behavior had not changed. That this individual
continued to sexually harass and wield power in a way the voters never intended. That this individual
was breaking down our democracy. He was forcing women to leave their careers in politics, forcing
them out of the building. Diminishing their voices.

While those of us that had been his victims and continued to stay in the building changed how we
worked, avoiding him, inviting others to meetings with him, changing our behavior in small ways giving
up our own power.
In 2016 I had made the promise that should I ever hear of this behavior happening again I would be the
first to come forward. I would be the first to go public because I know how incredibly hard it is to come
forward. I hoped that would never be needed.

The other victims of his harassment, of his bullying were aides and lobbyists. Those that are most
vulnerable to losing their careers, of losing clients and losing their income. They felt they had no
protections. But me I had credibility, I had power. I had felt guilty for 18 long months that by only going
to leadership that only coming to an agreement with leadership behind closed doors that I was putting
other women at risk. I knew when I found out other women had been harassed recently that I had no
choice but to keep my promise.

As a representative we all face the moment where we take a vote or a stance that might cost us our
political careers. For me it was the moment I came forward. I knew it would be a long road full of
retaliation, of my credibility being questioned, and of attacks. But if I could make sure not one other
person experienced harassment and was targeted by this individual then it was worth it, I felt compelled
to use the privilege of my position to make this workplace safer for everyone.

The last months have been awful. I have taken public attack, after attack, after attack while I have
patiently stood by waiting for due process to take its course. It has been 112 days since I publicly came
forward. 112 days where myself and the other women that came forward have been retaliated against.
The individual in this chamber has tried to shame us, tried to humiliate us, he has victim blamed, he has
threatened us with law suits. But through all of that we have stood strong and refused to be bullied,
refused to be silenced.

Finally, the report is back and it says 11 claims from five women are credible. It is clear that there is an
awful pattern of behavior that is not acceptable. Enough is enough. Time is up. Also, the accussers were
told to file a formal complaint and follow a process. So we did. We were told to let the investigation
finish in the name of due process before we could talk about expulsion so we waited. Now to attack the
process and question the integrity of the investigation is another delay tactic. Encouraging victimes to go
through this process and receiving a non-biased reports that claims are credible and then denying to
hold accountable the person is reckless and cruel.

Which brings us to what this body will do today. First I want to make it crystal clear this is not about
hugs, handshakes or off color jokes. This isn’t about occasional misunderstandings. This is about a
systematic use of power to intimidate, harass and control people.

Yes there is a spectrum of behavior. But the behavior of this individual is extreme. I said no five times. I
felt my safety was at risk. But it isn’t just me there are at least 10 other victims. This was not a one time
instance of bad judgement – this is a clear pattern of behavior. Then there is the retaliation. I know
more victims were thinking of coming forward with their stories until the retaliation started. Once the
retaliation started, once others saw what I was facing publicly on a daily basis he achieved the worst
part of his actions. He silenced victims. He made them feel that their voices were not believed, were not
strong and were not valid. We will likely never know the extent of his harassment because he has bullied
people into silence.

Which today that is where you all come in. Today we have a question before us. I believe the report
settled that. It isn’t just a question of he said, she said, or even a question of he said, she said, she said,
she said, she said, she said. This is a question of how today in this body we are going to stand up for
democracy. To declare that those of us that put on a black badge in the morning, those of that get the
title of Representative that the voters bestowed on us are not above accountability that we are not
above reproach.

Without this vote we will tell women that their experiences and voices don’t matter. We will tell our
aides, our interns, our lobbyists, our fellow representatives and yes you will be telling me that our voices
don’t matter. We will continue to tell each other in whispers who to avoid to keep each other safe.
Today is the day to shine a light on the culture that we have put up with for too long. Enough is enough.

Today is the day to stand up and say that it doesn’t matter the power we are given, there is a limit to
that power. The limit to that power is ensuring that we have a democracy where everyone in this
building feels safe regardless of title, that everyone in this building feel that their voice matters and that
this is about democracy and ensuring that this building and this chamber is the people’s house.

Without this vote today we are sending a message to any future victim of harassment or assault that
their experience and their voice is less important than those of us with power. Our time in this building
is temporary our time with power is temporary and I ask you today to use your vote and your voice and
yes your power to send a signal that we are truly creating a democracy where everyone is welcomed.