Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) has been pressured by leadership within the Congressional Black Caucus to step down. | Alex Wong/Getty Images Congress Rep. Jackson Lee refuses to step down from CBC Foundation amid retaliation allegations

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is refusing demands to step down as leader of the Congressional Black Caucus’ nonprofit arm amid claims she fired one of her congressional staffers over rape allegations.

Jackson Lee was told by the CBC Foundation’s board to resign during a lengthy call on Thursday night, according to two sources with knowledge of the conversation. Jackson Lee resisted those demands, and the call abruptly ended as other board members were trying to figure out how to continue the conversation without the Texas Democrat.


Jackson Lee has also been pressured by leadership within the CBC to step down from her position with the foundation, according to one of the sources. The foundation’s board was expected to have another emergency call Friday night to assess the situation.

Jackson Lee’s office declined to comment on the call, with her spokesman Robin Chand saying in an email, “I don’t know anything about this (as they’re separate entities).” A spokesperson for the CBC did not return POLITICO’s calls and emails Friday requesting a response.

“Yesterday’s board call was closed,” CJ Epps, a spokesman for the CBCF, said via email. “I’m not privy to their discussions and therefore can’t comment.”

Following Jackson Lee’s refusal to step aside, at least one board member stepped down, and sources with knowledge of the situation say more are expected to follow if Lee remains. Cathy Hughes, a media executive and entrepreneur, resigned from the board, according to the two sources. Hughes, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment.

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Several lawmakers are also on the board, including Reps. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) and Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.).

A spokeswoman for Cleaver declined to comment. The other members’ offices did not immediately return requests for comment about whether they will remain on the board if Jackson Lee does not step aside.

According to the lawsuit at the center of the controversy, the former staffer, identified only as Jane Doe, alleges that she was fired from Jackson Lee’s office last year after she indicated that she wanted to pursue legal action against a man whom she says raped her when she was an intern for the CBCF. The man worked as intern coordinator for the CBCF at the time of the alleged incident.

Glenn Rushing, Jackson Lee’s chief of staff, told BuzzFeed News that the woman “was not wrongfully terminated.” Jackson Lee’s office said in a statement that it “adamantly denies the allegations that it retaliated against, or otherwise improperly treated, the plaintiff.”

The lawsuit was filed earlier this month, but the alleged rape occurred in October 2015. The woman says she reported the alleged incident to the police and told, among others, Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.).

A spokesperson for Sewell called the lawsuit “incredibly troubling” in a statement but noted the Alabama Democrat is “not a party to the lawsuit, nor is she in a position to comment further on the underlying allegations.”

“The Congresswoman feels confident that she followed appropriate reporting protocol immediately upon being informed about the incident,” said spokeswoman Jackie McGuinness.

Jackson Lee has been a top proponent of the Violence Against Women Act, which lapsed amid the ongoing partial government shutdown. The landmark legislation funds resources for victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes against women. The 13-term Texas congresswoman, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, was also in line for a subcommittee gavel in the new Democratic majority.

Her refusal to bow to pressure to resign as chair of the CBCF board could jeopardize her efforts in both of those areas.