Latest / Illinois Valley - Shaw Local / State Rep. Briel denies allegations of sexual harassment, misconduct during DeKalb town hall
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- 0:05State Representative Briel, denies allegations of sexual harassment misconduct during DeKalb town
- 0:10hall Written by Megan Horstead. This article is being read by an
- 0:16automated voice, brought to you by Everlett. State Representative Amy Murray Briel,
- 0:22who's seeking a second term in November, spoke directly to allegations of
- 0:26sexual harassment and campaign misconduct at a DeKalb Town Hall Thursday night,
- 0:31becoming emotional at times and saying she was floored by The claims
- 0:35which she denied. It's not true.
- 0:38It's not real, said Briel’s Diyatawa. She spoke for more than five
- 0:42minutes in response to the question. The question, posed by a member
- 0:46of the public, asked the freshman lawmaker to address allegations that circulated
- 0:51in a publicized video last month. The resident asked Brio whether the
- 0:55claims were true. In the video, released by Briel's Republican opponent Liz
- 1:00Bishop's campaign, former Chief of Staff Laura Jackson accused Briel of repeated
- 1:05sexual advances, workplace drug use, harassment, and retaliation. Briel on Thursday
- 1:11again denied claims of sexual harassment, alleging the staffer, whom she identified
- 1:15as Miss Jackson, was upset for not getting hired for a position.
- 1:20Bishop's campaign didn't respond to a request for comment by Press Time
- 1:24Friday. Briel said she was with her family and other campaign staff
- 1:29the night of the inauguration, and nothing like that ever occurred. I
- 1:34was floored stunned, Briel said, of learning about the allegations through the
- 1:37Illinois Inspector General's office. Briel said Legislative's Inspector General Mike McCusky, who
- 1:43resigned august 31, found the allegations to be unfounded. McCuska's resignation
- 1:49which came amid criticism about his ability to handle investigations is effective
- 1:54September 30th, Capitol News Illinois reported. Despite some initial pushback from Briel's
- 2:00staffer at the town hall about the question, Briel told the resident
- 2:04she was glad he asked it, and appreciated the chance to clear
- 2:07the air. I am actually perfectly fine with you asking that question,
- 2:11Briel said. I'm happy to be able to talk to you guys
- 2:14and let you in on the s situation and what occurred. One
- 2:17of the things I think you should always look for in people
- 2:20that you elect are people who are willing to tell you the
- 2:23truth. Rio said she didn't understand why the allegations were made. I
- 2:28was a counselor for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, Briel said.
- 2:33In my life, I was a crisis line worker, I have been
- 2:36a fighter for people who have been bullied and who have been
- 2:39hurt, and that was mind blowing to me. I just couldn't wrap
- 2:42my head around it. Brielle represents House District 76 in the Illinois
- 2:48General Assembly, which includes portions of Dacalle, Bureau and LaSalle counties. This
- 2:53is a developing story. Check back for updates.