Dan Kirby represented Oklahoma House District 75 since 2008 and won the next four elections. It all came to an end after the news broke that state money had been used to pay off a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint against him in November. Amid calls for him to resign, he quickly did so, but soon rescinded it saying he had listened to bad advice. He hung on a few more months, but a second allegation led to an ethics investigation and the scheduling of a vote to expel him. He resigned in February 2017.
In January 2015, a woman was hired as a legislative assistant to Dan Kirby. She claims that Rep. Kirby began sexually harassing her. In September, she went to the human resources director asking to be assigned to a different legislator because Kirby made her uncomfortable. Kirby stopped talking to her and then she was fired in November 2015 without an explanation. They refused to tell her why she was fired and refused to allow her to see her personnel filed. She believes the firing was retaliation for going to HR. The state settled with her, paying her and her lawyers nearly $44,500 to settle her suit. It was paid by state funds, not by Dan Kirby.
A second woman who worked for him made a similar complaint, reporting that he asked for topless photos and invited her to a strip club.
- More Law: Hollie Bishop v. State of Oklahoma and Dan Kirby (Settlement)
- Bass Law: Hollie Bishop’s complaint
- The Oklahoman: Oklahoma state Rep. Dan Kirby resigns after sexual harassment claim.
- KOKO News5: OK Rep. Dan Kirby rescinds resignation.
05 Feb 2017
