Michael Queensland was Chief Clerk of the Wisconsin Senate. He also had worked for Republican Senator LeMahieu. He resigned after an internal investigation found a woman’s allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment credible. When LeMahieu announced Queensland’s resignation, he said Queensland denied the allegations.
In August, someone alerted the Wisconsin legislature’s human resources department that there were three alleged incidents of sexual misconduct or harassment at various state legislature association conferences.
An employment attorney investigated and interviewed a woman who worked as a legislative aide in another state. The woman had not filed a complaint, but was willing to speak to the investigator. The event is said to have happened at a legislative conference in Palm Springs, California.
According to the woman, Queensland and she had been drinking. He came up to her hotel room. She passed out and came around to see him pulling down her pants. He ignored her request to stop so she struggled and eventually pushed him away. He then left. He claimed the encounter was consensual. The investigator determined that the allegations were credible. Regarding the other two, she could not substantiate them and said they could just be rumor. So in September, Queensland resigned.
- WCCO: Former Wisconsin Senate clerk resigned amid sexual misconduct investigation, report shows
- WisPolitics: Investigator finds sufficient evidence former Senate chief clerk had nonconsensual sexual contact with woman at conference
October 19, 2023