August Wolf Suspends Campaign for Senate, Former Aide Files Sexual Harassment Suit: Report

Stamford, CT — Republican challenger for U.S. Senate August Wolf suspended his campaign on Tuesday after failing to collect the required signatures from 8,079 registered Republicans statewide, the Connecticut Post reports.

Bethel Republican Dan Carter is now the sole challenger to run against Democratic incumbent Richard Blumenthal.

Wolf's campaign has been riddled with controversy and now the Olympic athlete from Stamford has been accused by two former campaign managers of a homophobic work environment. He is also being sued by a campaign aide for sexual harassment. The aide's lawsuit alleges that Wolf made unwanted sexual advances toward her and violated election laws.

Samantha Menh is suing August Wolf, Baylor Myers and August Wolf for Senate for $160,000 for breach of contract, breach of good faith and wrongful discharge, according to the 12-page lawsuit. She is also seeking $2 million in punitive damages.

In her complaint, Mehn alleges that as soon as she began working for Wolf, she immediately began witnessing him making sexually improper comments and engaging in abusive behavior including calling her "babe," asking if she has ever been sexually satisfied by a real man and calling his former staffers "gay lovers."

Mehn said in the suit that Wolf constantly talked about his penis and its size and numerous other sexual references that made for an uncomfortable and hostile work environment. He also referred to Dan Carter as "the dough boy," which Mehn said was unprofessional and demeaning to overweight people.

In an open letter on his Facebook page, Wolf said he now supports Dan Carter for Senate.

"The goal of this campaign was always to ensure the people of Connecticut 6 years of solutions, not 6 more years of political theater. Dick Blumenthal has ruined this state. I have gotten to know Representative Dan Carter at campaign events; he is someone Connecticut can be proud of--I wish him the best in his campaign this fall. Ultimately we share the same goal: sending Dick Blumenthal home. I will support Dan as I can, especially where I have demonstrated some strength, in fundraising."

Read the lawsuit here.

Photo by Scott Benjamin