Posted on 01/08/2005 9:00:23 AM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO - The state Assembly has agreed to pay $49,000 to a former aide to Rebecca Cohn who accused the Democratic legislator from Campbell of creating an uncomfortable, sexually charged work environment.
In all, the Assembly will have paid Cohn's former press secretary, Erika Weaver-Taylor, $119,000 in taxpayer funds to stay home from work for 10 months.
The settlement, made public Friday, ends a yearlong investigation by a key legislative committee. But it does not end the public dispute. The legal resolution allowed Cohn and Weaver-Taylor to speak out for the first time in months about the allegations.
Cohn called the settlement ``ridiculous'' and said, ``I'm outraged that it took so long.''
``The proof that this complaint was without merit lies in the fact that despite this woman's attempt to leverage the Legislature, she received only minor severance.''
For her part, Weaver-Taylor said she was disappointed that the settlement did not address the complaints that she and Cohn's office manager, Melissa Wilhite, filed with the Assembly Rules Committee last December.
``The employees who had the courage to go to the Rules Committee believed our concerns would be addressed. Instead we were strung along,'' she said. ``I think it's sad that the mighty continue to protect the mighty.''
The initial complaints to the Rules Committee, which acts as a human resources department, stemmed from Cohn's photo shoot for the cover of San Jose Magazine. Weaver-Taylor and Wilhite told investigators that they felt uncomfortable when Cohn asked them to help her change outfits. The women said the assemblywoman also solicited comments about her provocative clothing and discussed her sex life, according to interview summaries obtained by the Mercury News.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
$49,000 Cohn Ping :-}
California taxpayers have to foot the bill for Cohn's mess?
Amazing, huh?
We are, both responsible for the actions of our legislators, as well as the receipients of their handiworks legislative-wise.. weird , huh?
Dante's Inferno looks pretty darn good about now with gubmint like this. ;-)
Let's ask her...
Thanks!
Well, I'm sure all the Kali FReepers are pleased as punch that your hard earned and involuntarily confiscated tax dollars are being used this way. Meanwhile, as expected, the dirty RAT skates off scott free without even a reprimand for her despicable behavior.
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