As news comes from the Capitol that a sexual harassment complaint against state Rep. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, has been dropped, we've got to wonder. Could there be something wrong with Capitol policies or leadership that allow one person to smear another's through the mud, and then even with evidence suggests exoneration, none is provided?
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According to a Post report carried in today's paper, Bruce announced Sunday that a sexual harassment complaint filed against him in May has been dismissed for lack of evidence — "an outcome he predicted all along," Jessica Fender writes. "The exoneration comes in a letter about two months after Bruce was interviewed by the lawyer the legislature hired to investigate the claim, which has not been made public. Bruce said a female lobbyist complained he looked at her and smiled."
While Bruce told reporters that he could not provide a copy of the confidential letter because it would reveal the identity of his accuser. House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (who allegedly signed the letter) declined to comment, confirm the letter, or even acknowledge that a complaint had been made against Bruce.
But why? Continuous allegations this session against Bruce (click here if you missed out on the "kicking" incident or perhaps his "peasants" remarks) have put his mug on the front page more than once. But now, as he is allegedly freed of allegations that he harassed a female lobbyist, no vindication is provided by House leadership.
According to the Post, sexual harassment complaints are kept confidential under House rules. Reporters only discovered the allegations against Bruce after they were leaked by insiders. But now, as Bruce faces a GOP primary in a few weeks, he deserves - at minimum - a letter clearing him of wrongdoing. That is, if there was an investigation. But perhaps we'll never know. Romanoff, now heading off into his term-limited sunset (at least for the next five minutes) should get out his paper and pen to write a second letter. This one should say that the investigation against Bruce went nowhere.
The bottom line: While we're not fans of Bruce, we are fans of open government and fact-based indictments. If the accusations against Bruce were actually serious enough to warrant an investigation, Bruce deserves at least a brief acknowledgment that the case is now closed.