Updated: Rep. Brenda Lawrence Suspends Accused Sexual Harasser Chief of Staff Dwayne Duron Marshall

Updated Nov. 8: Congresswoman's top aide suspended after harassment claims Politico

Tues. Nov. 7: House Democrats Rep. Jackie Speier of Ca. and Michigan's Rep. Brenda Lawrence are championing legislation to curb allegations of sexual harassment in Congress.  For Rep. Speier the proposed legislation reflects her long-held commitment to reform of the Congressional compliance office. 

In a recent interview with Politico, Speier called the OCC "toothless" and "a joke". 

Politico reports on Tuesday that several women have come forward alleging that Rep. Lawrence, a former harassment complaint investigator for the federal government, has kept her own chief of staff Dwayne Duron Marshall on the payroll, even though multiple women have complained directly to Lawrence. 

Each believed they made it clear to Lawrence that women in the office did not feel comfortable around Marshall or that he treated women differently than men. Two said they told her Marshall was the reason they were leaving her office. And one said she specifically cited “inappropriate” comments and physical contact.

While acknowledging changes she's made in her office over the years, Rep. Lawrence is adamant that no one ever told her that Marshall, who remains her chief of staff, was guilty of sexual harassment. 

“I want to be very clear, very firm, that I had no knowledge of any allegations of sexual harassment in my office, and when I say none, I mean none,” she said in a phone interview (with Politico. “I have had individual conversations with some of my employees when they had exit interviews. I’ve had one-on-ones and we have discussed things in the office that they felt we could do better. I have implemented training and other positive forms of correction. ... But I have not, and I want to be very clear, have not ever, had an employee — former or present — talk to me about sexual harassment in my office.”

The aides, who spoke off the record to Politico, said they did not use the term “sexual harassment”. However, the women insist that their comments and concerns should have raised alarm bells with Lawrence, especially given her professional background. Simply stated, Rep. Lawrence knows the code language as an investigator and circumstances that can easily cloud the reputation of the accusers in America's halls of power.