Amid allegations of sexual harassment at the legislature, Democratic Minority Leader Melissa Hortman says there’s a “culture of disrespect” towards women in the Minnesota House and Republican Speaker Kurt Daudt has not set the bar high enough for professional conduct. Hortman points to “the way that women were treated in committee by male chairs throughout the session; the way that women were treated on the [House] floor at several different instances when we asked the speaker to quiet the floor so that women’s voices could be heard and he refused to do so at times.” Daudt’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
Hortman went on to say, “I don’t think it’s any surprise that, if there has been an uptick in specific instances of sexual harassment or sexual assault or gender discrimination, when the tone has been one of significant disrespect.”
Hear Bill Werner’s complete interview with Hortman: