releases: https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/latest-headlines/mccaskill-backs-missouri-sex-harassment-initiative
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/latest-headlines/mccaskill-backs-missouri-sex-harassment-initiative | McCaskill backs Missouri sex harassment initiative | 2015-12-10 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Democrat | House | MO | Claire McCaskill | M001170 | www.mccaskill.senate.gov | legacy | McCaskill backs Missouri sex harassment initiative Thursday, December 10, 2015 By: Deirdre Shesgreen WASHINGTON Sen. Claire McCaskill said Thursday she has donated $10,000 to the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence to fund a new initiativefor interns who have been sexually harassed in their jobs. McCaskill made the contribution after two interns working at the State Capitol this year reported unwanted advances from legislators allegations that McCaskill said reminded her of her own run-ins when she was an intern in Jefferson City.McCaskill, D-Mo., said she hopes the Missouri coalition will set up ahotline and other resources for young peoplein Missouri who face such situations. The biggest issue facing someone who is being harassed in a situation where someone has a lot more power than you have is figuring out where to turn, McCaskill said. The hotline would allow any intern anywhere in the state to call and get good information about what options they have (and) what the laws are. Matthew Huffman, a program development specialist at the Missouri coalition, said few universities have procedures for helping students who face sexual harassment while serving in college-related internships. Its a gap that no one had thought to cover yet, he said. The coalition is using the McCaskill donation to figure out how to fill that gap. Huffmansaid they are consideringcreating a hotline or a web portal, which would have information about students' rights and links to crisis counseling and other support services. "We'relooking at a comprehensive way to develop a resource that students can access easily," he said. McCaskill said she made the contribution last week from her personal funds. She had promised to get more involved in the sexual harassment issue after speaking this summer withAlissa Hembree, the University of Central Missouri student who accused then-state Sen. Paul LeVota of sexually harassing her while she was interning in Jefferson City. McCaskill and intern to team up against sexual harassment LeVota denied the allegations but resigned, saying he did not want his family to deal with the false accusations and character assignation. LeVota's resignation came in the wake of another scandal involving former Republican state House Speaker John Diehl, who resigned after admitting he exchanged sexually suggestive text messages with a different Capitol intern. The twin allegations have sparked reforms in Jefferson City, with Missouri House members and staff now required to undergo annual sexual harassment training, among other changes. McCaskill applauded those steps. But she said its vital that interns have access to counseling and other resources. Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |