Ohio Harassment Complaints Filed Against Clinton-Pardoned Ex-Boss

nlpc ^ | 4/15/02

[knak]

Three Ohio women are taking on their company and their boss, a former union boss, in sexual harassment complaints. Deborah A. Fannin, Gay Griffith and Cheryl Ortoski filed charges of discrimination with the Ohio Civil Rights Comm'n on Feb. 5. The charges, which are made against the United Tele. Credit Union in Rocky River, Ohio, specifically name Martin J. Hughes. Hughes is an ex-vice president of the Communications Workers of Am. In Dec. 2000, President Clinton pardoned him for his 1987 conviction for falsifying union records. In their complaints, the women identify Hughes as treasurer-manager of the credit union. Griffith and Ortoski say the harassment started in Feb. 2001, when Hughes moved into their offices. Presumably, the pardon enabled him to obtain employment in which he would be entrusted with other individuals' money.

The complaints of both Griffith and Ortoski allege Hughes has asked if he could go to the bathroom with them. Ortoski's complaint says Hughes threatened to spank her. Griffith's complaint alleges he "attempted to set up an appointment with Planned Parenthood to discuss my personal sexual activities." The women's attorney, Avery Friedman, said they have a tape of Hughes dictating a letter to Planned Parenthood. Fannin's complaint claims that, during her job interview, Hughes remarked about two women in the office, "that they were lesbians." Fannin started working at the credit union in Jan. 2002. Her complaint alleges Hughes has since made the following statement: "If you ever get raped, you need to lay there and enjoy it." Friedman said Fannin will amend her charge of discrimination to include "statutory retaliation" because she was fired Feb. 7.

Drema Brown of OCRC's public affairs office said the women's charges will be investigated. When that process is completed, Brown said, investigators will make a recommendation to the five commissioners. If they decide there is probable cause, the state attorney general's office will get involved, she said. [Plain Dealer (Cleveland) 2/8/02]