Corrado: New Forum Would Continue Legislature’s Leadership in Combatting Sexual Harassment in Trenton

Senator Kristin M. Corrado said a new ad hoc committee proposed by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg would extend the Legislature’s leadership in combatting sexual harassment in Trenton.

“Long before Katie Brennan’s stunning accusations of sexual assault while working on Governor Murphy’s campaign were published, the Legislature had begun work on a modern anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy to better protect legislators, staff, and the public,” said Corrado (R-40). “I’m ready to continue working with Sen. Weinberg to expand the scope of our protective efforts and to attack the widespread culture of misogyny that persists in Trenton and New Jersey politics.”

The Senate and Assembly Republicans and Democrats began working together to produce a modern sexual harassment and discrimination policy in 2017 to address significant concerns raised by the #MeToo movement. The prior policy was enacted in early 2009.

Both houses of Legislature enacted the new policy through the adoption of SCR-140/ACR-10 on September 27, 2018. As a result, all legislators and legislative staff must complete new anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training pursuant to the New Jersey Legislature’s revised Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy.

Brennan’s bombshell allegations were later published by the Wall Street Journal on October 14, 2018, leading to the formation of the New Jersey Legislative Oversight Committee (LSOC) and a subsequent bipartisan, bicameral investigation.

Weinberg and Corrado, respectively the chair and vice-chair of the LSOC, have sponsored a package of legislative reforms based on the recommendations of the committee following months of hearings.

A number of those bills, which address deficiencies in the process of reporting and responding to harassment and discrimination claims within the Executive branch and during gubernatorial transitions, were approved by the Legislature in December and are awaiting action by the Governor.

“I’m proud to say that the New Jersey Legislature has been a national leader in responding to the #MeToo movement in a bipartisan fashion,” added Corrado. “It’s clear, however, that some in Trenton remain in denial that they are part of the problem or that sexual harassment even is a problem. I greatly look forward to discussing our next steps with the Majority Leader to ensure that everyone in the world of New Jersey government is able to work in a safe and respectful environment.”