AUGUSTA — One lawmaker was accused of sexual harassment this year, state officials recently told The Associated Press.
The complaint did not lead to disciplinary action against the legislator, said Jackie Little, the Legislature’s human resources director.
The state declined to share further information, pointing to exemptions in Maine law preventing such disclosure. Maine’s public records law includes an exemption for certain records detailing complaints and charges of misconduct against elected officials.
The state has received two other sexual misconduct or harassment complaints against lawmakers during the last decade, one in 2009 and the other in 2011.
A previous 50-state analysis by The Associated Press found several dozen lawmakers who have resigned or been kicked out of office since the start of 2017.
Maine joined about half of all state legislative chambers that have followed through with at least some sort of change to their sexual harassment policies.
Several lobbyists and lawmakers came forward in 2018 to share their experiences with inappropriate behavior at the Maine State House, including unwanted touching, lewd comments and leering.
A law passed that year requires that lawmakers and their staffs receive annual, in-person anti-harassment training and education – and it mandates that lobbyists also receive the same training.
Little said all but one of Maine’s lawmakers received such training. That lawmaker couldn’t attend for medical reasons.
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