Democratic House candidate Janelle Bynum is facing serious allegations of failing to act on reports of sexual harassment and assault within her campaign staff, according to a complaint obtained by Fox News Digital. The complaint, filed with the state’s Legislative Equality Office, accuses Bynum of not reporting allegations against a man working for the PAC that staffed her State Representative campaign in 2022.
The complaint alleges that Bynum was dismissive when confronted about the allegations and even threatened the individual who brought them to her attention. It claims that she failed to act on reports of inappropriate behavior by a field organizer, despite being directly informed by former staff members.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Bynum’s campaign denied the accusations, stating that Bynum flagged the accusations to the accuser’s employer, Future PAC, as soon as she became aware of them. The campaign also shared an email exchange with the Legislative Equity Office, indicating that Bynum is not under investigation by the office.
However, sources familiar with the situation revealed that state police have conducted interviews regarding the complaint and that the accused staffer has continued to be associated with Future PAC. Future PAC denied any official complaints triggering an investigation during the 2022 cycle.
The allegations against Bynum have sparked controversy, with critics pointing to her voting record on issues related to sexual assault survivors. Despite the backlash, supporters of Bynum have defended her, attributing the blame to Future PAC and Oregon Speaker of the House Julie Fahey for alleged HR failures.
As the race for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District heats up, Bynum’s handling of the allegations could have significant implications. With experts predicting a close race that could impact the balance of power in the House, the controversy surrounding Bynum’s campaign is likely to remain a focal point in the upcoming election.
