Embattled N.C. Democratic Party Chairman David Parker has called a news conference for 1 p.m. today at the party headquarters in Raleigh.
Pressure has been mounting on Parker to resign in the wake of revelations that he authorized a financial settlement with a former employee over a sex harassment claim. Executive Director Jay Parmley resigned Sunday, denying he had done anything wrong.
A former staffer named Adriadn Ortega accused Parmley of showing him a picture of male genitals, caressing his leg and discussing his sexual exploits, according to a copy of a letter The News & Observer obtained. Oretga also filed a complaint with the state Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Update: Parker announced that he would not resign, but that he would not seek re-election and ask that a vote for his replacement be held in May rather than the scheduled executive committee vote in June.
Parker defended his actions, and said he could not, for legal reasons, disclose details of the settlement earlier, even to his own executive committee. He said he didn't want to settle, because he didn't believe Parmley had done anything wrong, but the party's lawyer advised him to.
He expressed skepticism about Oretga's accusations, and said Ortega's letter "smacked of extortion." Oretga's letter said he would settle and sign a confidentiality agreement in exchange for one year's pay and health benefits. Parker said he couldn't disclose the amount of the final settlement, but called on Ortega to make it public.
Comments
Just a hint of a scandal makes it easy
April 20, 2012 - 8:14am — OffTheRecordCooldela, when the state party lawyer advises the chair that going against his legal advice means the Chair has to take the financial risk that future lawsuits on the issue will now be against him personally and not the party, then yeah, it is easy.
Parker said that during the press conference. Can't imagine anyone would risk their house, bank account and other personal assets for a volunteer post thats unpaid.
I feel bad for the Chair. On one hand, choose to ruin a man's life completely based on no witnesses or evidence of the accusations being true. Just "he said, she said." Then when the Chair follows the rules, laws and the attorney's advice, nobody minds until the news finds out and goes wild.
Live and learn and stay the h*** out of the bloody world of politics.
Smacked of extortion
April 20, 2012 - 5:46am — cooldelaIs it that easy to extort the North Carolina Democratic Party? Wonder why they did not "stand their ground?"
Sacrificial Lamb took a stand!
April 19, 2012 - 5:11pm — OffTheRecordFunny how no one in the NCDP had a problem with the settlement over sex. harassment allegations to a former staffer until the media put the screws to the Governor over what did she know about it and when.
Up until she lost her cool ("Get over it!"), Gov. Bev had Parker's back. But when her own band of council of state clique decided to put their own re-election campaigns ahead of the party's reputation and forced a PR nightmare by mutiny, Bev had to join in or face a war with her own colleagues, including Lieut. Gov Walter Dalton.
So these flipflopping politicians go for Parker's jugular and demand he resign for "the good of the party." (Code for "Save us! Fall on the g--d--- grenade, man!") Parker has yet to have committed any wrongdoing and has handled every step legally and ethically by following the state party attorney's legal advice. This was fine with these elected democratic officials who were informed. Nobody had a problem with Parker's handling as long as it stayed out of the press.
Then sombody leaked the story. Somebody with a motive. And only two really come to mind: personal gain and/or personal grudges.
Despite employment laws hamstringing Parker in communicating the matter to all those who wanted to know all the dirty details, Parker was vilified for handling the matter properly. Don't forget the accuser Adriadn Ortega came to Parker with the request for hush money or he was going to file suit. Parker was in a no-win situation and just trying to get out of this alive with his 35-year record of political service intact.
In the end, Bev and her fellow state council democratic officers managed to inflict a sucking chest wound of a spectacle on the NCDP by blaming Parker in the public court of opinion. Funny, again, is no one has yet to state just what Parker did that was so horrible or wrong that he should resign. Damn, politics ain't bean bag. It's a blood sport.
Back from the Grave?
April 19, 2012 - 3:10pm — oleaginousThe Ghost of Tricky Dicky was abroad today. This afternoon, Chairman David Parker treated the press to a medley of sophistries, self-serving re-interpretations of the "facts," and a fulsome account of his martyrdom in his search for truth. Words were twisted fantastically, weighty shadings applied, other persons blamed.
Despite the Nixonian performance, nothing much was changed.
Except maybe he'll be in the running for a Daytime Emmy.