Allegation – COOPER GENERAL NEWS

WASHINGTON – New York Republican Representative Tom Reed said Sunday he would not run for political office in 2022, including the governor, after a former lobbyist accused him of improperly touching her during a 2017 political weekend trip.

In a lengthy statement, 49-year-old Reed, who was first elected to Congress in 2010, apologized to former lobbyist Nicolette Davis, whose story was reported on Friday by the Washington Post. Mr Reed said that he took “full responsibility” for the episode and that it “occurred at a time in my life when I was struggling with an alcohol addiction”.

“Although I am only hearing of this matter now, as stated by Ms. Davis in the article, I hear her voice and I will not discharge her,” said Mr. Reed. “In reflection, my personal portrayal of this event is irrelevant. Simply put, I caused her pain, showed her disrespect, and was unprofessional. I was wrong, I am sorry and I take full responsibility. “

Prior to Ms. Davis’ allegation, Mr Reed was publicly considering running for governor in 2022, telling Fox News in February that he had been targeting an offer like Governor Andrew M. Cuomo over a wave of allegations of sexual harassment and other wrongdoing. Mr Reed also said Sunday that he would not run for re-election to his seat in Congress, referring to a promise he made to voters when he was first elected for just six terms.

Ms. Davis told The Post that when she was a 25-year-old lobbyist for Aflac insurance company, Mr. Reed pounded her after a day of ice fishing with donors, politicians and lobbyists in an Irish pub in Minneapolis. While he was drunk, Mr. Reed put his hand on her back, she said, untying her bra through her blouse and moving his hand over her thigh before Ms. Davis asked the man next to her to intervene.

After their allegations were made public on Friday, Mr. Reed said in a statement that the “account of my actions is incorrect,” but did not directly elaborate or deny the encounter.

New York Republican Representative Tom Reed on Friday denied the accuracy of a news report listing allegations made by a former lobbyist who said he inappropriately touched her during a political weekend trip in 2017.

The woman, Nicolette Davis, told the Washington Post that she was a 25-year-old lobbyist for the Aflac insurance company when Mr. Reed fingered her after a day ice fishing with donors, politicians and lobbyists in an Irish pub in Minneapolis. The congressman was drunk, she said, and while he was sitting at the bar, he put his hand on her back, untied her bra through her blouse, and ran his hand over her thigh before Ms. Davis asked the man next to her to intervene.

Reed, 49, who has served in the House of Representatives since 2010 and is currently considering running a New York gubernatorial run, declined to discuss the allegation with reporters at the Capitol on Friday. In a statement, he said that the “account of my actions is incorrect,” but he did not directly elaborate or deny the encounter. His spokesman did not respond to detailed follow-up questions, including the specific allegations that the congressman denied.

Ms. Davis, now a lieutenant in the Army, could not be reached. She told the Post that although she was a lifelong Democrat, her “conscience” and desire to set an example for others had led her to publicly share her story.

Jon A. Sullivan, a spokesman for Aflac, confirmed Friday that Ms. Davis sent a text message to one of her colleagues asking for “HELP” when Mr. Reed rubbed her back. She also reported the episode to another colleague shortly after it happened, he said.

“When this matter was reported to non-attending officers and colleagues, we immediately supported and advised Nicolette so that she could personally determine how to proceed to bring to light this deeply troubling experience.” he said in a statement emailed. “Aflac continues to support Nicolette 100 percent as we strongly condemn any form of abuse or harassment.”

The Post said Ms. Davis contacted the newspaper through her tip line in mid-February. The newspaper also spoke to a person who said they saw a visibly drunk Mr. Reed put his hand on Ms. Davis’ back and describe the report on condition of anonymity.

Ms. Davis also recently reported the incident to the Army, which referred him to the Minneapolis Police Department. Cynthia O Smith, an army spokeswoman, referred a reporter to the city police department who refused to comment.

Mr Reed told Fox News in February that he was “seriously” considering running for governor in 2022. He was an outspoken critic of Governor Andrew Cuomo, calling on the Democrats to resign or be charged with sexual allegations and harassment other wrongdoing. He called the governor’s behavior “disruptive and unacceptable”.

“I’ve been asked by many people to do this for months because I think they appreciate the way I rule,” Reed said in February ahead of the numerous harassment charges against Cuomo. “Don’t rule through arrogance, bullying like Governor Cuomo, but try to bring people together as proud Republicans.”

Mr. Reed is a former mayor of Corning, NY, who now represents a large rural district in the western part of the state, including Ithaca and parts of the Finger Lakes. As chairman of the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus, Mr. Reed has built a reputation in Washington as a Republican middle of the street eager to work with Democrats on sensitive political issues.

He was a vocal advocate of sexual harassment training for members of Congress and their staff, and wrote a comment for the Huffington Post in 2014 to raise awareness about sexual assault.

Jennifer Steinhauer contributed to the reporting.