Oregon Senator Resigns Amid Accusations Of Sexual Harassment

SALEM, OR — Embattled Oregon Senator Jeff Kruse on Thursday announced his resignation amid accusations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior during his 22 years as a state legislator. His last day as an Oregon senator will be March 15.

Kruse maintained his innocence in the resignation letter released Feb. 8, denying the accusations against him and decrying the lack of civil rights afforded to him as a person accused of wrongdoing.

"For civil rights to be meaningful, there must be civil rights for all people, including the right to fundamental fairness for persons accused of harassment," Kruse wrote. "I continue to deny these allegations and I regret that I will not have the opportunity to defend myself before the Senate Conduct Committee."

The allegations against Kruse were revealed last October when Senate President Peter Courtney publicly released a letter accusing Kruse of smoking at the capitol building and inappropriately touching women.

"Continuing to touch women at work is inappropriate workplace conduct of which you have already been warned," Courtney wrote. "Let me be very clear. Women in the Capitol do NOT want you to touch them."

Additionally, for allegedly smoking in the capitol building, Courtney had the door to Kruse's office removed.

"The revelations in the report about Senator Kruse’s actions are devastating," Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick wrote Thursday. "I believe the women who courageously came forward. It was past time for Senator Kruse to resign. We now have work to do to make our Capitol a harassment-free workplace, and that all individuals are respected."

Kruse's troubles grew worse in early November following the discovery of a YouTube video that apparently showed a shirtless Kruse chatting with a half-clothed woman, with whom he reportedly shared a brief relationship. The woman claims Kruse masturbated during their recorded conversation. Kruse said the woman was scamming him.

Kruse told The Oregonian the video was sexual exploitation. The poor quality video has since been removed for violating YouTube's terms of service.

Oregon state Rep. Knute Buehler was first to call for Kruse's resignation a short time after the video's release, and a day after Sen. Sara Gelser shared details of Kruse's alleged misconduct.

"The behavior of Sen. Kruse has no place in civil society or the workplace. This is especially true for someone who holds the people's trust and should set a higher standard of behavior," Buehler wrote in a strongly-worded letter to state leaders. "Throughout this process, Sen. Kruse has lost the personal credibility and ability to effectively serve the people of Oregon."

Gelser's actual testimony, however, may have been the most damning development for Kruse, as she explained in graphic detail Kruse's alleged behavior toward her.

"I first began experiencing unwanted and inappropriate physical contact from Senator Kruse while I was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives," Gelser wrote in a statement to state leaders. "I enjoyed a positive working relationship with Senator Kruse and respected his policy perspectives. However, I became increasingly reluctant to meet with him because he made physical contact with me in ways that made me uncomfortable. This included hugs in which he pressed his full body against mine, wrapping his arms tightly around me, kissing my cheek, or whispering in my ear. I would step away from these behaviors but was concerned that I would offend or embarrass him by discussing the behavior.

"On one occasion in 2011, Senator Kruse approached me from behind my seat at my House floor desk. He leaned forward from behind my back, and ran both his hands and arms down my shoulders and across my breasts," Gelser continued. "He then crossed his arms over the front of my body and squeeze me in a hug with his hands on my hips. He then rested his head first on my head and then my shoulder. I was stunned and frozen."

The Senate Republican Caucus on Wednesday announced its acceptance of Kruse's offer to remove himself from the capitol building through the duration of an investigation by the Senate Committee on Conduct. Kruse, however, ultimately opted to bow out before the process ran its course.

Kruse chose to tender his resignation, he said, "so my colleagues may focus on serving Oregonians without distraction and my constituents may receive the fullest representation they are due."

"Serving the people of Curry and portions of Coos, Douglas, Josephine and Jackson counties for the past 22 years has been the greatest honor of my life," Kruse wrote in his resignation letter. "I have been proud to serve alongside my colleagues in the Oregon House and Senate, and I am very proud of my accomplishments in healthcare and education. I look forward to returning to the wonderful community that has supported me for over two decades."

Top image via Rick Bowmer/AP Photo