[John Burton is running to become the chair of the California Democratic Party. This series examines why he is the wrong person for that job.]
This post doesn’t need a whole lot of embellishment. It’s been just over a year since political reporters Matier and Ross of the SF Chronicle reported on the sexual harassment lawsuit brought against John Burton by a former employee.
Burton @%*^$!: That sexual harassment lawsuit that the executive director of John Burton's foster-child charity filed against him came as no surprise to friends and ex-colleagues of the onetime state Senate president.
For years, Burton has been well-known his four-letter flames at members of both sexes.
The demand by Kathleen Driscoll for $10 million from Burton, however, was a bit of a jaw dropper.
That’s right. The man who wants to be the next chairman of the California Democratic Party was sued for sexual harassment to the tune of $10 million last year. The case was settled out of court last July (rumor has it, for big bucks) to clear the way for his election as state party chair. But even though Burton might wish to sweep the affair under the rug, California Democrats deserve to know the details of the behavior that Kathleen Driscoll alleged, under penalty of perjury. Here is her story, taken directly from the Complaint she filed in San Francisco Superior Court.
During DRISCOLL’S employment, BURTON engaged in hostile, demeaning and sexually abusive conduct such that DRISCOLL’S working conditions were significantly altered. His conduct over the past year easily rises to the level of severe or pervasive conduct for a hostile work environment sexual harassment claim both in California and under federal law. The harassing acts started in approximately September 2006. They consisted of numerous events, which took place throughout DRISCOLL’S employment, including but not limited to:
- Asking DRISCOLL over the phone, "What are you wearing?" on approximately 10 occasions;
- On one occasion, DRISCOLL sent a temporary employee to deliver paperwork to BURTON. BURTON ordered DRISCOLL to never send someone on her behalf again by berating her, "When you drop stuff off, stop in will ya? I mean I’m not getting laid under the fuckin’ table."
- Singling DRISCOLL out for exorbitant demands and attention, included but not limited to excessive demands for immediate and frequent meetings to go over routine matters, including on weekends after the work week was over in contrast to her co-workers;
- On one occasion, BURTON asked DRISCOLL to meet him on a weekend. When she arrived, BURTON presented her with a movie ticket and postponed the meeting until after the movie. After several more weekend meetings, DRISCOLL informed BURTON in a voicemail message that she could not meet him on weekends and that she was uncomfortable seeing movies with him because it felt strange and inappropriate;
- On November 1, 2006, BURTON required DRISCOLL to attend a formal event with him so she could potentially meet prospective donors to JBF. BURTON instructed DRISCOLL to meet him prior to the event, which she assumed meant to meet him at his office. When DRISCOLL called BURTON to inform him that she was on her way to his office, BURTON began to scream and swear at her, telling her that he wanted her to meet him at his home in Potrero Hill. DRISCOLL responded that Potrero Hill was entirely out of her way, and instead met him in front of the event. At the event, BURTON put his hand on the back of DRISCOLL chair and rubbed her back with his thumb. DRISCOLL moved away and after the event, informed BURTON that his conduct was inappropriate and would lead others to believe they were involved romantically. BURTON responded, "That’s what I want them to think." BURTON than asked DRISCOLL why she had not come to his house before the event by saying, "What did you think I was going to fucking rape you when you came to my house?"
- Frequently raising his voice when addressing DRISCOLL and repeating phrases such as "fuck me" in a raised voice approximately 60 times throughout her employment;
- Informing DRISCOLL on approximately 20 occasions throughout her employment, "Oh, I had a dream about you last night," while raising his eyebrows in a sexually suggestive manner;
- Making comments regarding DRISCOLL wearing a thong on approximately 20 occasions during her employment;
- Telling DRISCOLL that she was "probably wild sexually like all Catholic girls;"
- Introducing DRISCOLL to business associates as a thong model on approximately 10 occasions, and then laughing and remarking that DRISCOLL had turned red with embarrassment;
- Constantly screaming at DRISCOLL, such as "Sit the fuck down DRISCOLL!" when she stood to leave his office after a meeting;
- Commenting on DRISCOLL’S body, particularly her breasts and her buttocks. On one occasion BURTON commented, "Your nipples aren’t showing and its cold outside." On approximately five occasions, BURTON remarked, "Nipples standing hard;"
- Informing DRISCOLL on approximately three occasions that he often had "platonic sex with friends, lesbians and straight, whatever";
- Making hand gestures mimicking masturbation on approximately 10 occasions;
- Screaming at DRISCOLL, "What the fuck is wrong with you?" and "Look at me when I’m talking to you!"
- Handing DRISCOLL an insurance form with a prescription for a male performance enhancing drug similar to Viagra and saying, "This stuff really works;"
- On one occasion, as DRISCOLL walked past him, BURTON raised both his hands and made a gesture as though he were squeezing DRISCOLL’S breasts;
- Hitting DRISCOLL on the buttocks with a newspaper and saying, "You do work out, you have a tight ass;"
- Telling DRISCOLL that her t-shirt turned him on because it was made from silk and silk turned him on;
- While DRISCOLL was leaving an event, BURTON raised his arm and stuck up his middle finger at her; and
- When DRISCOLL told BURTON to cease his abusive conduct, he responded, "I thought you liked to be yelled at because you have 14 brothers."
[...]
BURTON made inappropriate sexual advances on a regular and ongoing basis, used vulgar and profane language and publicly humiliated DRISCOLL with sexual comments and behavior. BURTON engaged in a pattern and practice of sexual harassment against DRISCOLL. BURTON has a long history of being abusive, crass and profane. As recently as last month, BURTON bragged at a Sacramento luncheon about conducting State of California business at a strip club with another former State Senator. BURTON has a reputation among the Capital press corps for his vulgar language, volcanic temper and unpleasant demeanor. BURTON is his own worst enemy. DRISCOLL has experienced emotional distress as a result of BURTON’s sexual harassment of her and is presently receiving psychological treatment and prescription medication for her emotional distress.
BURTON has attempted to intimidate DRISCOLL by frequently stating how powerful he is and how he is above the law.
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I’m not certain what more I can add.
One of the things I find most striking, though, is the quote from Matier and Ross, that the lawsuit "came as no surprise to friends and ex-colleagues of the onetime state Senate president." So rather than being aberrant, this kind of behavior is apparently the norm for John Burton.
Do Democrats really want to send a message to women in California that they’re willing to accept/overlook this kind of behavior? Do the members of the DSCC care that the media will paint our party as a bunch of hypocrites? Is anyone worried about the outcry that Republicans will raise about Democratic values? And finally, the California Democratic Party diverted $500,000 to former State Sen. Don Perata last year, money that could have been used for voter registration, field organizing, or candidate support but instead was used to pay for Perata’s legal bills. How much more might the party end up paying with Burton as the party chair?
John Burton is the wrong person to lead the California Democratic Party in 2009.
x-posted at BurtonWatch.blogspot.com