A former employee of New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand left her job last year after she says a sexual harassment complaint she submitted was not sufficiently addressed.
The female staffer, who worked as an aide to Gillibrand, left her job less than three weeks after she claimed to the senator's office that a male employee had made multiple unwanted advances and uttered misogynistic comments in the workplace, according to Politico.
The woman, in her mid-20s, asserted in a letter to Gillibrand last August that she was leaving due to "how poorly the investigation and post-investigation was handled."
"Your office chose to go against your public belief that women shouldn't accept sexual harassment in any form and portrayed my experience as a misinterpretation instead of what it actually was: harassment and ultimately, intimidation," the letter continued.
The woman's identity has been kept private.
Gillbrand _ a candidate in the 2020 presidential race and vocal supporter of the #MeToo movement _ defended the investigation.
"As I have long said, when allegations are made in the workplace, we must believe women so that serious investigations can actually take place, we can learn the facts, and there can be appropriate accountability," Gillibrand said in a statement. "That's exactly what happened at every step of this case last year. I told her that we loved her at the time and the same is true today."
The male aide accused of sexual harassment is identified by Politico as Abbas Malik.
He remained on Gillibrand's staff following that first investigation, though Gillibrand's office said it did find he had committed unprofessional behavior that led to him being disciplined.
He was let go last week following a new probe.
"Recently, we learned of never-before reported and deeply troubling comments allegedly made by this same individual," reads a statement from Gillibrand's office. "The office immediately began another investigation and interviewed relevant witnesses, which has led to the office terminating the employee from staff last week."
Politico said it brought additional reporting to Gillibrand's team two weeks ago, including an accusation that Malik made a rape joke to a woman colleague.
Gillibrand's office also defended the first investigation, saying "immediate action" was taken at every step.
Gillibrand publicly pushed for her colleague Al Franken's exit after sexual misconduct allegations emerged against him in 2017.
