By Jason Doyle Oden
Democrats are resisting the limitations of the House Rules Committee which was appointed to investigate claims of sexual harassment against House members. In recent weeks, it has been revealed the House settled a complaint against Rep. Dan Kirby. It also has looked into an allegation against Rep. Will Fourkiller, who is refusing to appear before the committee unless it is an open meeting.
Rep. David Perryman walked out of the first meeting last week when rules keeping most of the proceedings private were presented. He said he could not accept the rules because the public has a right to know about the proceedings of the House Rules committee.
Now, Rep. Steve Kouplen has informed Committee Chairman Josh Cockroft that he would not be attending “due to the requirement of signing a non-disclosure agreement.” There were only three Democrats on the committee. Rep. Meloyde Blanchett could be the only Democrat attending the meetings, if Perryman and Kouplen continue to hold out.
Meanwhile, Fourkiller declined his invitation to appear before a closed meeting of the panel. Fourkiller claims he was summoned to the Speaker’s Office in April 2015 and was told he made a House Page “feel uncomfortable.”
“That was the extent of what I was told,” Fourkiller said. “The page was not identified and I did not inquire. I denied anything improper but immediately shied away from my normal interaction and role with the Page program for that week out of an abundance of caution.”
Fourkiller has requested a copy of his personnel file to see what was placed in it after the meeting in the Speaker’s Office.
“When they called me into the Speaker’s Office in 2015, I took it seriously but didn’t ever know I was being accused of harassment,” he said.
Fourkiller also said by the closed nature of the committee hearings, he would be unable to clear his name in public.
In a letter, Fourkiller told Cockroft, “I have nothing to hide,” but he declined to appear in a “closed, confidential proceeding.” However, his letter stated, “I would appear and testify in an open and fully transparent proceeding with notice of the specific allegation/complaint, identity of any witness(es), and disclosure of witness statements (with appropriate redaction, of course).” He also asked Cockroft to, “Please let me know if the committee revisits its rules to allow an open proceeding.”
There is no word yet if Kirby has been summoned by the committee, but also is expected to be subject to the investigation.
