Ernie Konnyu was a Republican Representative from Silicon Valley when he was accused of sexual harassment. He served one term in Congress and three in the California House of Representatives. There he pushed the workfare bill, requiring people on welfare to work for their benefits. He went to Congress and was one of authors of the welfare reform bill that forced people on welfare to work.
In his first year in Congress, he was accused of sexual harassment by three women. For example, he told one woman to move her nametag higher because she was covering her breasts. He fired her when she refused to be alone in meetings with him. Another woman claimed he persisted in asking him to stay after hours to talk with him. She refused and she, too, was fired. Fellow Republicans condemned him and the party supported his primary opposition. He lost the primary.
- LA Times: Konnyu at Center of Political Storm Over Harassment
- Wikipedia: Ernie Konnyu
8 Oct 1987
21 Oct 1987