Several hours after the New York Times reported that in 2008 Hillary Clinton protected a senior adviser accused of sexual misconduct, Clinton said on Twitter she was “dismayed when it occurred,” and “heartened” that the accuser came forward. However, the former Secretary of State did not address the specific report that she reassigned the accuser and continued to employ the advisor.
“A story appeared today about something that happened in 2008,” said the former Secretary of State in a Friday night tweet. “I was dismayed when it occurred, but was heartened the young woman came forward, was heard, and had her concerns taken seriously and addressed.”
She continued, “I called her today to tell her how proud I am of her and to make sure she knows what all women should: we deserve to be heard.”
A story appeared today about something that happened in 2008. I was dismayed when it occurred, but was heartened the young woman came forward, was heard, and had her concerns taken seriously and addressed.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 27, 2018
I called her today to tell her how proud I am of her and to make sure she knows what all women should: we deserve to be heard.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 27, 2018
Earlier Friday, a Times report by Maggie Haberman and Amy Chozik said that in 2008, Burns Strider, the Clinton campaign’s “Faith Advisor,” was accused of sending suggestive emails to a 30-year-old female staffer, and also of touching her inappropriately in public. Wrote Haberman and Chozik, “Mrs. Clinton’s campaign manager at the time recommended that she fire the adviser, Burns Strider. But Mrs. Clinton did not. Instead, Mr. Strider was docked several weeks of pay and ordered to undergo counseling, and the young woman was moved to a new job.”
Strider, co-founder and as of this writing still president of the American Values Network, continued to work with Clinton in subsequent years and in 2013 he joined the pro-Clinton group Correct The Record. But, the Times reports, he was removed from that role several months later after a young female co-worker accused him of sexual harassment.
A statement provided to the paper by the law firm Utrecht, Kleinfeld, Fiori, Partners, who represented the 2008 campaign, defended the decision saying the typical protocols were followed.
“To ensure a safe working environment, the campaign had a process to address complaints of misconduct or harassment. When matters arose, they were reviewed in accordance with these policies, and appropriate action was taken,” it said, according to the Times.
While her 2008 and 2016 campaigns have been hailed as a milestone for women’s empowerment, Clinton herself has been unable to fully embrace the #MeToo movement. She has been dogged by accusations that she covered up for the transgressions of her philandering husband Bill Clinton who has been accused of several acts of sexual misconduct — including rape during the course of his career.