Rashida Tlaib slams anti-israel Arab group over handling of sexual harassment claims

Rep.Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., speaks with union activists about free speech on college campuses at the Capitol in Washington, May 23, 2024.(AP Photo/J.Scott Applewhite)

Hasan, a Georgetown University adjunct lecturer, said he filed a formal derivative demand on April 22 seeking corrective action — including the removal of board leadership — and shared those concerns with the attorney general’s office.

Read More → Hawks vs Knicks Game 5 betting preview: Why Karl-Anthony Towns’assists are the play to watch

He said he raised concerns about harassment and governance failures and expected an independent investigation, but instead alleged the organization conducted an internal review and removed him from his board position within days, which he described as retaliation.

Hasan also criticized how the review was handled, saying the board investigated the matter internally despite his objections that it should be handled by an independent third party, creating what he described as a conflict of interest.

“A board cannot investigate itself,” he said.

“Since then, additional survivors have shared deeply painful experiences with me, making it clear that these are not isolated incidents but part of a systemic problem,” he added.

TRUMP VISA POLICY ‘FAR MORE RESTRAINED’ THAN BIDEN POLICY TARGETING ISRAELIS THAT FLEW UNDER THE RADAR: EXPERT

“In my professional view, meaningful change will require the resignation of the current board and the creation of a community-driven interim transitional board to rebuild trust and safety,” he added.

In a public statement, ADC said it had been reviewing concerns raised “across various platforms” and acknowledged that some allegations reference incidents from more than a decade ago.

“Because we recognize that the passage of time does not erase harm, we reiterate our previous apology sincerely and without reservation,” the organization said.

ADC added that it maintains a “zero-tolerance policy for harassment” and warned against the spread of misinformation, saying it would defend itself against “false claims.”

Tlaib described her experience working at the group’sMichiganoffice early in her career in avideoposted to social media last week.

She said she was sexually harassed while working at the organization and that the alleged misconduct later escalated to involve multiple women, with more than two dozen individuals coming forward with similar accounts.

Read More → NASA shuts off Voyager 1 instrument to save power 15B miles from Earth

Anti-Israel students occupy a central lawn at Columbia University in New York City on April 21, 2024, as part of a campus protest.The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee has played a visible role in campus protests tied to the Israel-Hamas war, including providing legal support and advocacy for student demonstrators.(Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

Tlaibaccused the organization of failing to properly address the allegations, saying the individual accused of misconduct “didn’t get fired” and was instead “paid… to just go away.”

She also suggested leadership sought to minimize the issue, saying they “threw it under the rug.”

Tlaib said she spoke out again after discovering the organization was using her image on its website.

Read More → Another state bans ‘gas station heroin’as officials warn of deadly risks

“Shame on you for using the image of a victim of your organization and continuation of a toxic work environment.You all haven’t changed,” Tlaib wrote.

“I stand with all of ADC’s survivors who were shamed instead of protected and believed,” she added.

The allegations referenced by Tlaib were publicly reported more than a decade ago, when multiple women came forward with claims of misconduct involving a senior staffer, distinguishing them from Hasan’s more recent governance-related claims.

Students participate in an anti-Israel protest on Columbia University campus.(Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Other activists have echoed similar criticisms.

Palestinian-American political analyst Omar Baddar, who previously led a regional ADC chapter, said he stood with Tlaib outside an ADC event 13 years ago, demanding accountability over sexual harassment allegations involving a senior staffer.

onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.

It is not clear whether anycriminal chargeswere filed in connection with the past allegations.

Read More → Trump DOJ report lays bare Biden administration’s alleged anti-Christian bias

Rashida Tlaib’s office and the attorney general’s office for comment.

You can send tips to michael.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.