Ailing Democrat MP Diego Hernandez resigns

Faced with the possibility of being the first person to be kicked out of the state legislature, struggling Democratic MP Diego Hernandez resigns.

“Today I submitted my resignation so that my colleagues can focus on serving Oregonians and so I can move forward with my life and focus on my health and my family,” Hernandez said in a brief statement sent. at the OPB on Sunday evening.

Earlier this weekend, a judge rejected Hernandez’s legal effort to stop the vote on his deportation. The entire House was due to vote on Tuesday on the Democrat’s expulsion from Portland after a panel of lawmakers determined he created a hostile work environment for three women. It would have taken a two-thirds or 40-member vote to kick Hernandez out.

The third-term Democratic lawmaker, once considered a rising star in his party, had been plagued by harassment allegations for months. After an independent investigation, members of the House Conduct Committee determined that he had harassed and created a hostile workplace on the State Capitol for three women.

The women involved in the investigation all worked at the state capitol or had jobs that required interacting with the state legislature. Members of the steering committee sided with the women, finding that Hernandez used his position of power as an elected representative to pressure two of them to resume a relationship with him or put their careers on the line. in danger. Another woman, who had a longer relationship with him, spoke of his controlling and abusive behavior.

Hernandez argued he hadn’t had a significant chance to present his side of the case. He filed a lawsuit, which included several text messages with the women who were part of the investigation and numerous communication materials that were not presented in legislative hearings examining his behavior.

Hernandez’s trial sought a temporary restraining order to stop the eviction vote and to prevent any further punishment. But United States District Court Judge Ann Aiken made it clear that the Oregon legislature has been “charged with controlling its own members” and she is wary of allowing the court to intervene.