Since mid-October, a dozen state lawmakers have resigned and two others have been expelled from legislatures in nine states amid sexual harassment allegations, according to national data. Add in those who have been punished in other ways — such as being booted from a leadership position — and the numbers increase.
But in Georgia, that information is not so easy to find. Here, lawmakers have designed a system of laws and policies to deal with sexual harassment complaints that keeps the public in the dark about much of the investigation and outcomes, reporting by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found.
When asked why she didn’t file a complaint against a male lawmaker she says harassed her, a female lobbyist told the AJC, “I’d never work in this town again.”
READ | Lobbyist files sexual harassment complaint against Georgia lawmaker
READ | Georgia lawmakers required to receive sexual harassment training
The same #MeToo movement that has spurred changes in other states and emboldened accusers to come forward with allegations, hasn’t had the same impact in Georgia.
Still, optimists say change is coming in Georgia, it’s just coming slowly.
Read more about the AJC's investigation, including the expanding policy lawmakers recently implemented to handle harassment claims and Georgia's colorful history of male-female relationships in the legislature, at Politically Georgia.
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