A Democratic congressional candidate in Oregon finds herself embroiled in controversy as an ethics complaint threatens to upend her campaign.
According to Fox News, Janelle Bynum, who is running for Oregon's 5th Congressional District, has been accused of failing to report allegations of sexual harassment and assault against a member of her campaign team.
The ethics complaint claims that Bynum was notified about inappropriate sexual behavior by a field organizer toward young volunteers during her 2022 campaign for State Representative. Despite being informed, the complaint alleges that Bynum took no action and even threatened the individual who brought the matter to her attention.
The complainant states that they personally spoke with two former staff members who claimed to have reported the inappropriate behavior directly to Bynum and two other campaign associates. However, according to the complaint, no action was taken in response to these reports.
Text messages obtained by Fox News appear to show Bynum expressing reluctance to address the issue when confronted by a former campaign manager. In one exchange, Bynum reportedly responded to the manager's concerns by asking, "Are you threatening me?"
The complaint emphasizes that all legislators in Oregon are considered mandatory reporters, obligated to report credible information regarding sexual harassment or assault, especially involving minors.
Bynum's campaign has denied the allegations, stating that the complaint is not based in reality. A campaign spokesperson told Fox News that Bynum had flagged the accusations to the alleged perpetrator's employer, Future PAC, as soon as she became aware of them after the 2022 election.
The spokesperson added:
It's also why she's openly aided the Legislative Equity Office's investigation into the matter. Rep. Bynum expected Future PAC to deal with these accusations fairly and swiftly and to ensure their employees' well-being and safety. If Future PAC did anything less, that is unacceptable.
Despite the campaign's assertion that Bynum is not being investigated by the Legislative Equity Office, sources familiar with the situation told Fox News that state police have conducted interviews regarding the complaint in recent weeks.
The ethics complaint comes at a critical time for Bynum, who is running against Republican Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer in a race that could potentially affect the balance of power in the House of Representatives.
Several organizations, including the Congressional Black Caucus PAC and EMILY's List, have expressed their continued support for Bynum, characterizing the complaint as a politically motivated attack.
However, a source familiar with the situation told Fox News that Bynum would have received annual training on her duties as a mandatory reporter, making her aware of her obligation to report such allegations to law enforcement rather than to Future PAC.
The controversy surrounding this ethics complaint has the potential to significantly impact Bynum's campaign in one of the most closely watched House races in the country. As the investigation continues, voters in Oregon's 5th Congressional District will be closely monitoring developments in this unfolding story.
