Trent Franks Resigns

Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) announced on Thursday that he is resigning from Congress amid allegations of sexual misconduct—specifically that he asked two female staffers about being surrogates for his children. “I have absolutely never physically intimidated, coerced, or had, or attempted to have, any sexual contact with any member of my congressional staff,” Franks said in a statement. But he admitted to conduct that “made certain individuals uncomfortable,” including “discussion” of surrogacy in the workplace. Franks said he and his wife “have long struggled with infertility” and experienced three miscarriages.

Several weeks went by. Then something unusual happened. The congressman called me on my cellphone — from his cellphone — late on a Sunday night. He mentioned that his family wasn’t home and asked me whether I could come over that night for a “final one-on-one interview” with him.

I was stunned. Senior members of his staff had interviewed me weeks before and offered me the position. After speaking with my family, I called the congressman back and told him I didn’t feel comfortable going to his house. In that case, he told me, the internship offer was rescinded.

I should have marched back into the congressman’s office the next morning and demanded that they honor their offer. Or I should have gone to House leadership and made a formal report. But I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers, and, at that point, I didn’t want to work for a member who would rescind a job offer because I wouldn’t go to his house alone late at night.

Turtleneck wrote:If you are asking why many of the accusers did not come forward when these events took place, it was likely because they were often professionally punished for even resisting. In this case, Franks pulled an internship offer because a law school student would not come to his house for a final interview on a Sunday night when his family was gone. Two weeks ago there was a story of a women who did go public with her claim years ago, and never found work in D.C. again.

Several weeks went by. Then something unusual happened. The congressman called me on my cellphone — from his cellphone — late on a Sunday night. He mentioned that his family wasn’t home and asked me whether I could come over that night for a “final one-on-one interview” with him.

I was stunned. Senior members of his staff had interviewed me weeks before and offered me the position. After speaking with my family, I called the congressman back and told him I didn’t feel comfortable going to his house. In that case, he told me, the internship offer was rescinded.

I should have marched back into the congressman’s office the next morning and demanded that they honor their offer. Or I should have gone to House leadership and made a formal report. But I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers, and, at that point, I didn’t want to work for a member who would rescind a job offer because I wouldn’t go to his house alone late at night.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trent-franks-rescinded-my-internship-when-i-wouldnt-come-to-his-house/2017/12/15/7972ed14-e1ba-11e7-bbd0-9dfb2e37492a_story.html?utm_term=.ba29e5a5e3ff