Rep. Al Green (D-TX) had sex with a staffer and then sued her when she threatened to go public with their relationship, claiming that she was a drug addict.
Green’s former district director, Lucinda Daniels, claimed that she was the victim of a hostile work environment because she started rejecting Green’s sexual advances after he confronted her about her alleged drug use, The Daily Caller News Foundation reported.
Court documents filed in 2008 detail the affair as Daniels claimed she was sexually harassed by Green and demanded a nearly $2 million settlement.
“Daniels has threatened to go public with her complaints if the Congressman does not per her money. Green has done nothing wrong and refuses to pay ‘hush money’ just for political expediency. Green will not be extorted or blackmailed by Daniels. He will not be the victim of a shakedown by Daniels and her agents. Green demands vindication of his actions and now sues Daniels for declaratory judgment relief relating to her workplace allegations and her quest for money,” court documents filed by Green note.
Daniels allegedly unknowingly dialed the Texas Democrat while she was purchasing and using cocaine, which was recorded as a voicemail that Green submitted as evidence.
“Daniels is heard ‘snorting’ the cocaine immediately before questioning whether it was ‘cut’ with some other substance and being assured that it was “straight off the ki[lo] … Daniels asks for the purchase price of the drugs, which she calls her ‘Tuesday special’ price. In response, the drug dealer sells her the drugs for $40.”
Although the case went virtually uncovered by the media at the time, Green and Daniels released a joint statement today as “friends” as Congress is dealing with cases of sexual harassment.
The statement reads:
In the present climate, we wish to jointly quiet any curious minds about our former and present relationship with one another. We are friends, and have long been friends. At an unfortunate time in our lives, when both of our feelings were hurt, we hastily made allegations and charges against one another that have been absolutely resolved.
This matter has been resolved without payment of any money or transfer of any consideration of any kind by either of us to the other. As friends, we have both agreed that we see no need to make further statements regarding this absolutely resolved matter.