Austin (1080 KRLD)- Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan addressed the recent accusations that have surfaced about a lobbyist using the "date rape drug" on a State Capitol staffer during an off-site meeting.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has been investigating the matter since late last week when the staffer came forward. "These allegations shake our Capitol family to its core," Phelan said to the entire State House Chamber on Monday morning. "I am disgusted that this sort of predatory behavior is still taking place in and around our Capitol."
Phelan painted a picture to lawmakers of a troubled culture in the Capitol that is resulting in accusations like this one. "I find it infuriating that amid conversations about these monumental issues, I stand here today having to address these disgusting detestable allegations that are a symptom of a culture that has been festering in this building for far too long," said Phelan.
In an effort to address this culture the Speaker announced some changes. "To make it easier for individuals to confidently come forward and report harassment today I’m directing the General Investigating Committee to establish an email hotline, for the purpose of submitting reports or complaints of harassment in the workplace."
In year’s past those working in the State Capitol have been required to take online sexual harassment prevention training, but now Phelan wants to take it a bit further by requiring the prevention training to be done in-person.
On Sunday Austin lobby firm HillCo Partners released the following statement:
"HillCo Partners joins the Capitol community in condemning any form of violence or other unwanted conduct against women and strongly supports the right of women to have their voices heard and believed. The reported incident is abhorrent and, once investigated and found to be accurate, should be dealt with in the strongest legal manner possible. The men and women of HillCo Partners take these allegations extremely seriously. We do not and will not tolerate a culture where anyone is not valued with respect and dignity.
When the rumors emerged yesterday on social media, HillCo Partners immediately hired outside counsel and a respected former law enforcement official to conduct an internal investigation. If facts come to light that anyone associated with HillCo partners had any involvement with such conduct, that person will be immediately terminated. HillCo will cooperate with law enforcement in its investigation. In the meantime, we have taken aggressive steps internally to address this issue. We are resolute in our commitment in this regard."