An Iowa lawmaker is challenging the accusations of a woman who filed an ethics complaint alleging he touched her inappropriately in 2015.
Senator Nate Boulton filed a response Monday to the Iowa Senate Committee on Ethics complaint, saying parts of the woman’s story “do not ring true.”
The woman, Des Moines attorney Sharon Wegner, filed a complaint November 17th, alleging Boulton repeatedly put his hand on her buttocks at a bar in November 2015.
Boulton, who was elected in November 2016, argues ethics rules don’t apply because he hadn’t taken office.
He has not denied that the touching took place but contends the alleged actions didn’t violate Senate sexual harassment rules because they’re not tied to behavior in the workplace.
He also provided a signed statement from a fellow lawyer indicating the woman portrayed herself as having a romantic interest in Boulton that he didn’t return.
The accusations contributed to Boulton dropping his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor before the June primary.
He has refused to resign from the Senate.
Senate Democratic leaders have refused to put Boulton on any senate committees until the ethics complaint is resolved.
