Sexual Harassment Allegations Create Stir in Legislative Assembly
By Leland Baxter-Neal, Tico Times Staff
A legislative aid told national media yesterday she is ready to name names and testify in what has so far been an unsubstantiated rumor of sexual harassment in the Legislative Assembly.
According to various local media reports based on anonymous sources, a legislator – who has not yet been publicly named – allegedly made unwanted advances toward a legislative assistant.
On a trip various lawmakers took to the Caribbean province of LimĂłn approximately two weeks ago, the legislator allegedly flirted with and bothered the legislative aid, at one point forcing a kiss on her, La NaciĂłn reported. After the worker refused the legislator’s advances, she was dismissed from her position, the witness told the daily.
Before witnesses began talking to the media, some lawmakers had already brought the matter to the legislative floor. Alberto SalĂłm, a Citizen Action Party (PAC) legislator, called for an investigation into the alleged harassment on Monday.
“I reacted yesterday on the legislative floor because if the press says there is sexual harassment by some legislator, obviously this could fall on any one of us,” Salóm told The Tico Times Tuesday in an assembly abuzz with talk of the accusations. “This has to be investigated.”
However, Legislative Assembly president Francisco Pacheco said he cannot begin an investigation until the victim comes forward and files an official complaint.
SalĂłm said that even if harassment were proven, there is little that could be done because lawmakers have legal immunity.
“And even if the legislator renounced his position and immunity, there is no punishment in the penal sense,” Salóm said. “The only sanction would be a moral sanction, but I would do it.”
More… By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The sexual harassment case at the legislative assembly exploded into a full-fledged scandal Wednesday when a lawmaker admitted he was the one involved in the case and denied any improper action.
In response the supposed victim who has not been identified said via an intermediary that she was upset by the legislator’s statements made at a press conference and that
she was going ahead and filing a complaint.
Gloria ValerĂn, a former lawmaker, presented herself to the legislature shortly before 10 p.m. with a formal complaint. She said she was acting on behalf of the woman. But no one was authorized to accept the document. She said she would file it with the assembly today.
Meanwhile the leadership of the Asamblea Legislativa was facing accusations of arranging a coverup. The victim confirmed that she had accepted a deal, according to Ms. ValerĂn, The former legislator is identified with women’s issues.
The lawmaker is Federico Tinoco Carmona of the Partido LiberaciĂłn Nacional, the ruling party. He gave a well-attended press conference earlier in the day in which he categorically denied allegations of having committed sexual harassment. He said he had been misunderstood.