Sheila Jackson Lee steps down from key posts amid ex-aide's retribution claim in sex assault case

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Sheila Jackson Lee steps down from key posts amid ex-aide's retribution claim in sex assault case 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

WASHINGTON – Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee, under fire from a former aide's lawsuit alleging she was fired in connection with a sexual assault complaint, said Wednesday that she will step down temporarily as chairwoman of a key House Judiciary subcommittee on criminal justice.

Jackson Lee, in her 13th term, also resigned as chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, a post that helped raise her national profile.

STAFFER: Ex-Sheila Jackson Lee staffer says she was fired in retaliation for planned sex assault suit

The lawsuit, filed by a woman who worked in Jackson Lee's office from November 2017 to March 2018, claims that she was dismissed after notifying the congresswoman's chief of staff that she planned to take legal action against the foundation over an alleged sexual assault involving one of the group's supervisors.

She is identified in court records only as "Jane Doe," a special assistant and director of public engagement. Her suit says she sometimes served as Jackson Lee's personal driver.

Jackson Lee issued a statement Wednesday "adamantly" denying the woman's allegation and recounting her record of advancing civil rights and non-discrimination legislation, including a law that applies to Congress.

She also has been a key voice in the push to extend the historic 1994 Violence Against Women Act.

"While we still deny the allegations, we are especially concerned about Ms. Doe and only want the best for her and the many, many young people that the Congressional office has supported, encouraged and provided opportunities for over 20 years," the statement said. "The congresswoman is confident that, once all of the facts come to light, her office will be exonerated of any retaliatory or otherwise improper conduct and this matter will be put to rest."

Nevertheless, the loss of a leading role on the criminal justice subcommittee was a setback for Jackson Lee, who would have been the first black woman in that post overseeing an important issue in the African American community.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-NY, backed Jackson Lee's move, which comes just as the Democrats, who regained the House majority in November, consolidate their grip on all the chamber's committees.

"Representative Sheila Jackson Lee has built a strong legacy of service on the Judiciary Committee and in Congress," he said. "I fully support her decision to voluntarily and temporarily step back from the Crime Subcommittee Chair position to ensure the Subcommittee's important work continues. This decision does not suggest any culpability by Representative Jackson Lee."

Pressure has been building on Jackson Lee since the lawsuit laying out the former aide's claims was filed Jan 11. Jackson Lee becomes the latest member of Congress to be ensnared in #MeToo era allegations of sexual impropriety.

The lawsuit stems from events October 2015, when the woman, then a 19-year-old Howard University intern for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, alleges that a 30-year-old male supervisor she was drinking and socializing with took her to his home and forced her to have sex.

According to her complaint filed in a federal court in Washington, the woman reported the incident to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and was told the supervisor would be placed on leave. She decided not to bring legal action against the foundation at the time.

She also reported the assault to Washington's Metropolitan Police Department, which investigated but did not bring charges.

The woman was hired by Jackson Lee's office two years later after she graduated from Howard. The earlier incident involving the foundation supervisor, identified as Damien Jones, did not come to light until Jones also was being considered for a job in Jackson Lee's office.

The woman then reportedly told Jackson Lee's chief of staff, Glenn Rushing, about the "prior situation." Jones was not hired.

Reached for comment Wednesday, Jones referred a reporter to his attorney, Oliver Brown, who denied the allegations.

"There was no rape and there was no sexual contact," Brown said. "That woman was rightfully terminated."

On the night of the alleged attack, Brown said, Jones was trying to cover up for the woman, whom he alleges was drunk at a work event. He said she stayed at his home because she was intoxicated.

Brown, a Houston-based attorney, described the suit against Jackson Lee as a calculated effort to reach a settlement quickly.

"We're living in this Me Too era now, right?" he said. "So there's tons of victims to actual sexual assaults every day. However, there is other individuals like this individual that now see this as a money-grab opportunity."

The attorney said he and his client were considering intervening in the suit or filing separate legal action. "People have to stop this rush to judgment based off an allegation," he said. "We need to give people a fair chance in court so that all the facts can come out."

He added that Jones is "totally innocent."

Jones has since done outreach work for the Union of Concerned Scientists and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke's 2018 Senate campaign in Texas.

In the lawsuit, the woman said that soon after going to work for Jackson Lee, she learned about a text message sent to Jackson Lee by A. Shuanise Washington, the foundation's chief executive, offering "background" on the woman.

The woman said she connected the text to her assault and told Rushing that she would take legal action against the foundation. She also said she wanted to speak to Jackson Lee personally. Instead, she said, she was fired. The reason given was "budgetary issues."

Her lawsuit names both Jackson Lee's office and the foundation, which released a statement promising to cooperate with an investigation of the woman's claims.

The woman's attorney, Lynne Bernabei, said she wants to remain confidential and is not doing interviews.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, which includes high-profile corporate executives and members of Congress, has denied having any influence over Jackson Lee's decision to fire the woman. The group reportedly pressed Jackson Lee to step down from her post.

While Jackson Lee battles the woman's allegations, it became clear Wednesday that the case was costing her support among key allies, including the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, which announced that the group could no longer "support her continued lead sponsorship" of the Violence Against Women Act.

Kevin Diaz reported from Washington; Emily Foxhall reported from Houston.

Kevin.diaz@chron.com

twitter: DiazChron

emily.foxhall@chron.com

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