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State Legislator Calls For Yearly Sexual Harassment Training For Lawmakers

Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Nate Libby of Lewiston wants legislative rules to require that all lawmakers get yearly sexual harassment training.

Libby says the many reports of lawmakers involved in sexual harassment cases in other states is worrisome.

“I think it would be false to assume that those situations are not happening here at the Maine State Legislature. I will say in my capacity as a member of leadership I have not had a case brought to me directly,” he says. “We are operating from the assumption that it goes on, and that we want to do a better job of making sure legislators are trained to identify when it is happening, to identify when their own actions are inappropriate.”

Libby says the training he received when first elected is not adequate, and points out that legislative employees already receive regular training.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.