If the sexual harassment allegations in a scandal embroiling the state Democratic Party are true, the party official responsible should resign, said Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, a leading candidate for governor.
"We cannot tolerate sexual harassment in the workplace," Dalton said Saturday at the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party convention. "If there's any truth to the allegations, somebody should resign or be fired immediately. We won't tolerate that."
Dalton's remarks came a day after a top state party activist raised questions about whether the N.C. Democratic Party arranged a financial settlement to cover up allegations that a former staffer was fired after he complained about being harassed by a senior party official.
Two other leading candidates for the party's gubernatorial nomination, former Congressman Bob Etheridge and state Rep. Bill Faison, dodged questions Saturday about the matter, saying they didn't know enough about the situation to comment.
The former staffer's firing embroiled the party soon after it occured in November. The party deflected all questions at the time. But the scandal hit the spotlight Friday after documents surfaced describing a complaint from a member of the party's executive committee about the secret settlement. The document did not identify the party official responsible.
The party declined to comment on the matter.
--John Frank and Jim Morrill, staff writers
Comments
and he wants to be governor???
April 15, 2012 - 2:06pm — REAGAN99Dalton comes out with a statement now saying if the allegations are true, then there must be a resignation??? Does Dalton really think we think he didn't already know about this?
There has already been a settlement and a coverup and its over a month old.
This looks like the same kind of leadership, or lack thereof, that we have experienced with Bev and Gov. Sleazly and Rep. Black......
Surprise, surprise
April 15, 2012 - 9:26am — PamlikoI can't find where this made the cut for the on line edition of the N&O today.
One story that did was that we don't like John Edwards anymore. Some of us never did, but you'll remember the N&O didn't run the slime stories about him when they first became aware because he was a 'favorite son'. Whose favorite son? Certainly not mine and now few others now that his true self has been revealed.
Etheridge and Faison dodged questions
April 15, 2012 - 9:18am — cooldelaIn the game of dodge ball, I have found it easy to dodge a ball that is thrown softly and slowly. Don't even have to break a sweat.
I don't know how it works in investigative journalism.
I had often wondered............
April 15, 2012 - 8:36am — cooldelaI had often wondered .................what they did during the offseason.
The Real Democrats of North Caroina
April 15, 2012 - 7:32am — inandohIt may be time for a reality TV show about the Democrats of North Carolina. The state has been rocked with scandals and it may be time to cash in.
But but but...
April 15, 2012 - 6:40am — RedHotPokerThis is normal behavior for 'them'. Dont you see? Nothing here, move along.
.... known since December
April 14, 2012 - 10:00pm — AgentPierceWOW... another Democ sex scandal that The N&O knew about but did not report. Is this deja vu all over again ??
Will we have to start calling ace political reporter Rob Christensen - Rob "WhatSexualHarrassment" Christensen?
?
April 14, 2012 - 9:19pm — Bob_Sconcea former staffer was fired after he complained . . .
What evidence do we have that it was a male? Victims of sexual harassment are usually (but not always) female.