Updated: Rep. Brenda Lawrence Suspends Accused Sexual Harasser Chief of Staff Dwayne Duron Marshall

Updated: Rep. Brenda Lawrence Suspends Accused Sexual Harasser Chief of Staff Dwayne Duron Marshall

Updated Nov. 8: Congresswoman's top aide suspended after harassment claims Politico

Tues. Nov. 7: House Democrats Rep. Jackie Speier of Ca. and Michigan's Rep. Brenda Lawrence are championing legislation to curb allegations of sexual harassment in Congress.  For Rep. Speier the proposed legislation reflects her long-held commitment to reform of the Congressional compliance office. 

In a recent interview with Politico, Speier called the OCC "toothless" and "a joke". 

Politico reports on Tuesday that several women have come forward alleging that Rep. Lawrence, a former harassment complaint investigator for the federal government, has kept her own chief of staff Dwayne Duron Marshall on the payroll, even though multiple women have complained directly to Lawrence. 

Each believed they made it clear to Lawrence that women in the office did not feel comfortable around Marshall or that he treated women differently than men. Two said they told her Marshall was the reason they were leaving her office. And one said she specifically cited “inappropriate” comments and physical contact.

Congresswomen Jackie Speier & Brenda Lawrence Set To Deal With Capitol Hill's 'Toothless' . . Sexual Harassment Policy, 'A Joke'

Congresswomen Jackie Speier & Brenda Lawrence Set To Deal With Capitol Hill's 'Toothless' . . Sexual Harassment Policy, 'A Joke'

Politico writes that two female lawmakers -- Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif) and Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) -- and several congressional staffers will are working on new legislation calling for an overhaul of the Congressional compliance office, in view of the landslide of sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations mounting across media, Hollywood, state politics and just about every American workplace from the New York/DC corridor to California -- with touchdowns also in middle America. 

The compliance office is today "constructed to protect the institution -- and to impede the victim from getting justice," according to Congresswoman Speier. This is not her first attempt, having introduced the same bill every year since 2014.

“Many of us in Congress know what it’s like, because Congress has been a breeding ground for a hostile work environment for far too long,” Speier continued. “It’s time to throw back the curtain on the repulsive behavior that has thrived in the dark without consequences.”