Hillary Clinton Chose to Shield a Top Adviser Accused of Harassment in 2008
- 6 years ago
Hillary Clinton Chose to Shield a Top Adviser Accused of Harassment in 2008
Those familiar with the accounts said that, over the years, a number of advisers urged Mrs. Clinton to sever ties with Mr. Strider,
and people familiar with what took place did not want to see Mrs. Clinton blamed for the misconduct of men she was close to.
Mr. Strider, who was Mrs. Clinton’s faith adviser, a co-founder of the American Values Network, and sent the candidate scripture readings every morning for months during the campaign, was hired five years later to lead an independent group
that supported Mrs. Clinton’s 2016 candidacy, Correct the Record, which was created by a close Clinton ally, David Brock.
Ms. O’Connell, who is currently chief executive officer of the Democratic National Committee, handled the investigation and advised the Clinton campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle,
that Mr. Strider should be fired, according to three people familiar with the events.
They said that Ms. Solis Doyle, the campaign manager,
and other senior campaign officials discussed the situation involving Mr. Strider and Mrs. Clinton’s response at the time.
WASHINGTON — A senior adviser to Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign who was accused of repeatedly sexually harassing a
young subordinate was kept on the campaign at Mrs. Clinton’s request, according to four people familiar with what took place.
Instead, Mr. Strider was docked several weeks of pay and ordered to undergo counseling, and the young woman was moved to a new job.
A spokesman for Mrs. Clinton provided a statement from Utrecht, Kleinfeld, Fiori, Partners, the law firm
that had represented the campaign in 2008 and which her advisers said has been involved on sexual harassment issues.
Mrs. Clinton’s campaign manager at the time recommended that she fire the adviser, Burns Strider.
Those familiar with the accounts said that, over the years, a number of advisers urged Mrs. Clinton to sever ties with Mr. Strider,
and people familiar with what took place did not want to see Mrs. Clinton blamed for the misconduct of men she was close to.
Mr. Strider, who was Mrs. Clinton’s faith adviser, a co-founder of the American Values Network, and sent the candidate scripture readings every morning for months during the campaign, was hired five years later to lead an independent group
that supported Mrs. Clinton’s 2016 candidacy, Correct the Record, which was created by a close Clinton ally, David Brock.
Ms. O’Connell, who is currently chief executive officer of the Democratic National Committee, handled the investigation and advised the Clinton campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle,
that Mr. Strider should be fired, according to three people familiar with the events.
They said that Ms. Solis Doyle, the campaign manager,
and other senior campaign officials discussed the situation involving Mr. Strider and Mrs. Clinton’s response at the time.
WASHINGTON — A senior adviser to Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign who was accused of repeatedly sexually harassing a
young subordinate was kept on the campaign at Mrs. Clinton’s request, according to four people familiar with what took place.
Instead, Mr. Strider was docked several weeks of pay and ordered to undergo counseling, and the young woman was moved to a new job.
A spokesman for Mrs. Clinton provided a statement from Utrecht, Kleinfeld, Fiori, Partners, the law firm
that had represented the campaign in 2008 and which her advisers said has been involved on sexual harassment issues.
Mrs. Clinton’s campaign manager at the time recommended that she fire the adviser, Burns Strider.