Mayra Flores staffer resigns amid sexual harassment accusations

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The district director for Texas’ latest congresswoman, Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, just lately resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment.

The web site Current Revolt first reported a collection of long-running allegations towards Aron Peña in a narrative printed final week. The web site, which is related to the far proper in Texas politics, mentioned it was advised Peña is ​​“accused of multiple instances of harassment of teenage staffers,” together with “unwanted touching, inappropriate sexual comments, and forcing himself on staffers.”

The Texas Tribune discovered that Peña’s earlier employer, the state Republican Party, had investigated allegations of harassment towards him. And when he was then Flores’ district director, he was accused of touching and kissing an intern with out her consent in July. He denies any wrongdoing.

“The accusations are serious and not a reflection of our values,” Flores spokesperson Daniel Bucheli mentioned in an announcement. “We addressed the allegations as soon as we were made aware, and Mr. Peña resigned.”

Bucheli’s assertion referred to the allegations within the Current Revolt piece. Flores’ workplace declined any extra remark and wouldn’t talk about the precise allegations associated to the intern. The workplace additionally wouldn’t reply questions on when Peña resigned and whether or not it was earlier than or after the Current Revolt article was printed.

“I emphatically deny the allegations,” Peña mentioned in an announcement to the Tribune, calling them politically motivated.

“After losing several campaigns in the primary a handful of Republicans in the losing camp motivated by revenge have engaged in a long-standing effort to discredit the good work of the Hidalgo County Republican Party,” he mentioned. “Attacks have been made against anyone who disagrees with their efforts.”

He mentioned he left the Flores marketing campaign as a consequence of “serious health issues (blood clots in the legs and lungs)” and so he wouldn’t be a “distraction in the closing days of an election.”

The allegation towards Peña was that he assaulted an intern whereas driving her and a second intern house on the finish of a workday, in keeping with two individuals aware of the scenario. Peña was mentioned to have dropped off the second intern first, although it was out of the best way, the individuals mentioned. Once he was alone with the primary intern within the automotive, he was reported to take longer routes to her home and commenced touching her and kissing her, regardless of her telling him to cease, in keeping with the individuals.

Peña didn’t deny the incident came about however advised the Tribune that the intern began it and that it was consensual.

Peña is a member of a distinguished household in Republican politics in South Texas. His sister, Adrienne Peña-Garza, is the chairperson of the Hidalgo County GOP. His father is Aaron Peña, a former state consultant who’s working for a state appeals courtroom seat.

Flores is near the household. Peña-Garza helped give Flores her begin in politics by hiring her as Hispanic outreach chair for the occasion.

Flores is in a hotly contested race for reelection after flipping the thirty fourth Congressional District in a June particular election, a boon to the GOP’s post-2020 offensive in South Texas. But she faces a more durable race in November, when the district has been redrawn to be extra favorable to Democrats and her opponent is U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen.

The marketing campaign arm of House Democrats, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, despatched out a news launch Friday extensively highlighting the Current Revolt story, together with 11 bullet factors with excerpts.

Gonzalez mentioned he was “deeply disturbed” that Flores employed Peña.

“Rep. Flores turned a blind eye to his behavior because he came from a connected family — and as a result, a young female staffer was assaulted in her workplace,” Gonzalez mentioned in an announcement. “It’s inexcusable and tells you everything you need to know about Mayra Flores’ judgment and character.”

Peña beforehand labored for the Texas GOP, serving as strategic initiatives director from August 2021 till June 23, 2022, in keeping with a celebration spokesperson. The occasion’s chair, Matt Rinaldi, acknowledged in an announcement that the occasion seemed into sexual harassment allegations towards Peña however declined to offer extra element, citing a confidential course of.

“The Republican Party of Texas operates a zero tolerance policy for any form of sexual harassment in the workplace, treats all incidents seriously, and promptly investigates all allegations of sexual harassment,” Rinaldi mentioned. “Any person found to have sexually harassed another will face disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from employment. All complaints are taken seriously and treated with respect and in confidence. That process was followed in this instance.”

One lady who had been concerned in native Republican politics, who additionally requested to be unnamed due to issues about retribution, mentioned she turned so alarmed with Peña’s conduct that she filed a police report in February, hoping to finish what she described as years of harassment and stalking. She mentioned she went in particular person to the McAllen Police Department and shared her expertise with officers at size, however when she later requested for a replica of the report, she was given a abstract that omitted many particulars.

“Victim stated male suspect has been harassing her for years now. Victim is willing to file charges,” mentioned the Feb. 18 abstract, a replica of which The Texas Tribune obtained.

The Tribune has filed a public data request for the total report.

Peña was by no means charged with a criminal offense. He mentioned the accuser was a Democratic plant who hates his household.

Graham, the Cameron County GOP chief, mentioned she didn’t assume Flores was conscious of the issues with Peña when she employed him.

“I can say with all honesty I don’t believe she knew about any of this,” Graham mentioned. “I know her well enough to believe that if she had heard about that, she would absolutely not tolerate it.”

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