MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The Vermont Legislature has had two complaints of sexual misconduct or harassment over the past decade, records show.
Colleagues also voted to suspend then-Sen. Norman McAllister after he was arrested in 2015 on sexual assault and prohibited acts charges.
The Associated Press filed public records requests seeking information, including the number of sexual harassment complaints lodged against legislators and any financial settlements reached with accusers.
No Vermont legislators were disciplined, expelled or resigned following such complaints, and no such cases have resulted in payments to accusers or confidential settlements.
The Vermont Office of Legislative Council said it could not release public records related to the two complaints.
McAllister, of Highgate Center, was convicted in 2017 of setting up his tenant to have sex with one of his acquaintances. The Republican, who has maintained his innocence, was sentenced to one year of probation and sex offender treatment. Charges were dismissed against him in a sexual assault trial involving a different accuser who lied.
The Senate Sexual Harassment Panel and a similar House panel have been working on and adopting a joint sexual harassment policy this session that includes many changes to previous policy, including issues related to confidentiality, said Democratic Sen. Becca Balint, of Brattleboro, chairwoman of the Senate committee.
Members of the panels will be meeting in a conference committee in the coming weeks, she said.
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