A former Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) campaign aide is accusing her supervisor, Robert Becker, of inappropriate behavior escalating to a forced grab and kiss on the night of the 2016 Democratic Convention, according to a Wednesday Politico report.
The woman did not report the incident at the time, but was prompted to when Becker took on another prominent role in Sanders’ 2020 efforts, shoring up potential staffers — including his alleged victim — and making trips to the early voting states.
“It just really sucks because no one ever held him accountable and he kept pushing and pushing and seeing how much he could get away with,” the woman told Politico. “You can’t run for President of the United States unless you acknowledge that every campaign demands a safe work environment for every employee and volunteer.”
Becker denies the allegation.
This is just the most recent account of alleged sexual assault and harassment from a former Sander staffer as details emerge about the “bro” culture of the 2016 campaign and lack of accountability. Sanders addressed the allegations with a milquetoast apology last week, saying he was sorry “to any woman who felt that she was not treated appropriately.”