x
Breaking News
More () »

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee accused of retaliation in lawsuit by ex-staffer

A former staffer for U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat, says in the suit that she was fired as retaliation for suing the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation over an alleged 2015 rape.
Credit: Getty Images
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) speaks to members of the media at a hallway of the Rayburn House Office Building where former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey testifies to the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees on Capitol Hill December 07, 2018. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — (TEXAS TRIBUNE) A new lawsuit has a Houston congresswoman in hot water.

A former staffer for U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat, says in the suit that she was fired as retaliation for suing the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation over an alleged 2015 rape. Buzzfeed first reported on the matter on Wednesday evening.

The woman is listed in the court documents as Jane Doe. She alleged that while she was an intern for another member of Congress in 2015, she took part in the foundation's internship program and was raped by the intern coordinator, Damien Jones.

Three years later, the woman was then employed in Jackson Lee's office. The congresswoman at the time was - and continues to be - the chairwoman of the foundation's board of directors. In March 2018, Doe informed the congresswoman's chief of staff, Glenn Rushing, of her intent to pursue litigation against the foundation. Several weeks later, Rushing and Jackson Lee fired Doe, citing budgetary reasons, the lawsuit says.

Doe is now suing Jackson Lee's office and the foundation for $75,000.

"We would have no reason to harm the former intern," a foundation spokesman told Buzzfeed. Jones did not respond to Buzzfeed's request for comment.

On Thursday morning, Jackson Lee declined to comment to The Texas Tribune while near the U.S. House floor. She referred to a statement form her office, which was released Thursday afternoon.

"The Office adamantly denies the allegations that it retaliated against, or otherwise improperly treated, the plaintiff. It is against office policy to discuss specific details about internal personnel matters," it stated.

Then, the statement pointed to a piece of legislation Jackson Lee backed in 1995 as a freshman — a bill known as the Congress Accountability Act — and noted that it made Doe's legal pursuit possible.

"The plaintiff chose federal court and she has every right to utilize this process and pursue a claim through the CAA," said the statement. "Although the Congresswoman is eager to respond substantively, she will do so only at the appropriate time, as the court docket dictates. The Congresswoman is confident that, once all of the facts come to light, her Office will be exonerated of any retaliatory or otherwise improper conduct and this matter will be put to rest."

"While we still deny the allegations, we are especially concerned about Ms. Doe and only want the best for her and the many, many young people that the Congressional office has supported, encouraged, and provided opportunities for over 20 years," the statement concluded.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is a nonprofit offshoot of the powerful Congressional Black Caucus. The foundation issues reports and offers fellowships and scholarships to develop political leadership talent among young African-Americans.

Jones went on to work for the U.S. Senate campaign of former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke. O'Rourke's spokesman issued a statement to Buzzfeed on the matter: "“The Beto for Texas campaign was absolutely not aware of these allegations until today and no longer has a relationship with Damien Jones.”

Before You Leave, Check This Out