A county commissioner in Olympia, Washington, Emily Clouse, is facing allegations of sexual harassment against her former aide Allyn Hershey, along with accusations of pressuring him into a romantic relationship. Hershey is now seeking $750,000 in damages following the bitter end of their relationship, with Clouse firing him just 30 minutes after he reported the harassment. An outside investigation hired by the county found that Clouse likely did not sexually harass or retaliate against Hershey, but he disputes this claim.
The report indicates that Clouse and Hershey engaged in a consensual romantic/sexual relationship while working together, but Hershey felt pressured to keep Clouse happy, leading to him running errands for her, buying her things, and loaning her money. Hershey also accused Clouse of pressuring him into the relationship and making false claims against him during the investigation.
Clouse’s attorney denies the accusations, calling them “ridiculous” and stating that they are a ploy to silence Clouse. Hershey, on the other hand, believes the public deserves to know the truth about Clouse’s behavior and is speaking out about the inconsistencies in the report. Hershey hopes that the public will see Clouse’s true character and make an informed decision about her ability to hold office.
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