DENVER - State Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver, has accused a fellow lawmaker, Sen. Larry Crowder, of sexual harassment.
Lontine filed a formal complaint against Crowder in November and a third-party investigator concluded in December that her claims were "more likely than not" to be true, according to a news release from House Democrats.
Lontine said the harassment involved unwanted physical contact on the floor of the House of Representatives and an inappropriate comment.
Lontine had intended to resolve the matter privately, she said, but she decided to go public with her claims following a meeting with Crowder.
"…in a meeting this week with Sen. Crowder and Senate President Kevin Grantham, Sen. Crowder expressed little remorse and he didn't take responsibility for his actions," Lontine said in a written statement. "Fearing my continued silence would enable attempts to gloss over this serious issue, I have chosen to speak up because the public needs to know."
In a statement provided to Denver7, Crowder didn't deny the allegations but said he offered Lontine an apology, which she accepted:
"At a meeting called to discuss and resolve a complaint, I offered Representative Lontine an apology, and it was a sincere apology, in an effort to show respect for her perspective and restore the cordial working relationship we have had. Representative Lontine accepted my apology, we shook hands and I believed the matter was concluded. I'm not going to speculate about why she now wants to make this into a press event, despite my good faith effort to understand her viewpoint and make amends. I consider the matter resolved and will continue to do the work my constituents sent me here to do."