PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island lawmaker has been removed from his committee chairmanship after a months-old email surfaced accusing him of sexually harassing a fellow lawmaker.
Democratic House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello announced Monday night that Democratic Rep. Cale Keable, of Burrillville, will not serve as chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee at least until the matter is clarified.
The move came soon after WPRI-TV reported that Democratic Rep. Katherine Kazarian of East Providence sent the speaker an email March 11 saying, “As we have discussed, I have endured years of sexual harassment” by Keable. She said she was concerned whether Keable would be fair in handling legislation she had filed that was before his committee.
A lawyer for Keable, Kathleen Hagerty, told WPRI that Kazarian’s claims were “unsubstantiated years-old allegations.” She added in a statement on Tuesday that she hasn’t been able to gather specifics about the claim, making it difficult to respond in any meaningful way.
The Associated Press asked Mattiello’s office on March 19 and on April 10 whether it had received any sexual misconduct complaints against legislators since 2008. Larry Berman, a spokesman for Mattiello, said there had been “no complaints received against legislators.”
When asked Tuesday why the office did not disclose the March 11 accusation against Keable, Berman said there had been no “official complaints” filed at that time. He said the subject of Kazarian’s email was her bill assignments, and it was not a complaint. She also requested privacy, Berman added.
Kazarian said Tuesday in a text message that her email speaks for itself, and all she wanted was a fair hearing on her bills. She added that she has no further comment at this time.
Hagerty said Keable has not communicated with Kazarian in any substantive way since 2015.
Some lawmakers told WPRI-TV that Mattiello knew of the alleged harassment for years. Mattiello said in a written statement that four years ago, he had asked the two lawmakers to avoid personal contact.
Keable was put on administrative leave from his job as an attorney at the law firm Partridge Snow & Hahn because of the allegations, according to WPRI-TV. The firm said on Tuesday that there had been no allegations of sexual harassment or other misconduct made against him by any of their employees.
Last year, Democratic Rep. Teresa Tanzi said a higher-ranking legislator told her sexual favors would allow her bills to go further. In response, Mattiello asked Tanzi to create a legislative commission to address sexual harassment. Mattiello said then that he won’t tolerate harassment and the “overwhelming majority” of House members conduct themselves appropriately at all times.
The commission introduced a package of legislation in early June. None of the bills got a vote on the House floor. Female lawmakers said they were deeply disappointed. Mattiello said the bills were raised too late.
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