Senator Wilson fires back

ANCHORAGE — State Senator David Wilson (R-Wasilla) struck back against news reports and statements he said that were made by Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon (D-Dillingham) and House Rules Committee Chair Gabrielle LeDoux (R-Anchorage), accusing him of inappropriate behavior with a legislative staffer back in the spring, by holding a well-attended press conference at legislative offices in midtown on Thursday.

The alleged incident, caught on video by surveillance cameras, has been kept from the public due to privacy concerns in a human resources matter. Wilson said he was able to gain a viewing of the video and said it completely exonerates his claim that he in no way tried to slide his cell phone under the skirt of the staffer. Further, Wilson told reporters on hand, he was informed by Senate President Pete Kelley (R-Fairbanks) of a report conducted by the legislative affairs agency that also clears him of any wrongdoing. Wilson said he did not personally have a copy of the report, but hopes it will be made public within the next week.

“I was having a conversation with another gentleman in the hallway. My conversation was interrupted and I was told I did not belong in the hallway and was told I needed to leave,” Wilson explained of the encounter at Thursday’s press conference. “I was told I did not belong in a place where I believed I had every right to be.”

There has been no formal complaint lodged by the female staffer involved in the incident. The story has gained traction due to media reports, which Wilson declared were unsubstantiated and based on rumor and gossip, and, Wilson said, by Edgmon and LeDoux, for whom he saved his harshest criticism.

“I am asking Speaker Edgmon and Rules Chair LeDoux step down from their leadership positions,” Wilson said. “I believe the speaker failed as an HR official and allowed members of the leadership team to make false allegations against me while knowing the truth of the matter as an employer.”

Wilson said he’d tried to meet with Edgmon repeatedly since news of the encounter first came to light, but could never gain an audience. Again denying he did anything that broached sexual harassment or workplace hostility, Wilson is confident the report, and the video will vindicate his claims.

When asked whether the accounts of eyewitnesses — many of them journalists — were incorrect or fabricated, Wilson said, “There is no person that told the story about the incident. There is no claim, no complaint,” he said.

The Republican-held Senate Majority released the following statement after Wilson’s press conference.

“The nonpartisan Legislative Affairs Agency concluded its investigation into alleged actions by Sen. David Wilson. The confidential report was released to Senate President Pete Kelly. However, the subject of the investigation, Sen. David Wilson, has requested public release…Per legal advice, the report may be released through an official committee action. Sen. Kelly has asked the Rules Committee Chairman to hold a hearing to discuss the report and consider release. Leadership is first working with legislative attorneys to determine the appropriate form of a release in order to protect individuals involved in the investigation… Senate Leadership is unable to discuss the report contents until official release.”

That confidential nature of the video, especially considering that it involves an employee who is not known to have filed a complaint, makes releasing it as Wilson would like, all the more challenging.

“To an extent, some are HR matters and should be confidential,” Wilson said. “I believe the public should have access to some information. We live public lives and the public chooses who they would like to represent them. They should have the knowledge after investigations are complete. I believe in transparency in state government.”

Anchorage Daily News reporter Nat Herz, who earlier this year accused Wilson of striking him in the face at the Legislature, asked Wilson why he was calling the press conference in the first place, given that there have been no actual charges leveled against him.

“I’m responsible for the actions in my life, and when there are allegations peddled against me that can ruin my life and make things difficult for my family, I have to be responsible to defend myself, especially when there is evidence to vindicate me of any wrongdoing,” Wilson said. “I can’t wait for someone else to step forward and do the right thing… The Speaker (Edgmon) had evidence knowing (what was on the video) and refused to step up, do the right thing and tell the truth.”

Later on Thursday, Edgmon replied with the following press release:

“Senator Wilson crossed the line of appropriate behavior by using a press conference to chastise individuals who came forward as witnesses to an alleged incident of harassment. I believe this is a violation of the legislature’s harassment policy and warrants a serious investigation by the Senate,” said Speaker Edgmon.

“I feel compelled to set the record straight, I am constrained by confidentiality requirements regarding both personnel matters and discussions which take place during executive session. I cannot comment on the findings of the report, as it is not yet public, and this remains a confidential personnel matter. However, the statements about why I chose to allow this matter to rest this spring are unequivocally false. Executive sessions are confidential, and though Senator Wilson thought it appropriate to summarize my intentions during an executive session, I am not permitted to give a full explanation of context. I will say, it became apparent that I could not both pursue the matter through Legislative Council and respect the wishes of the staffer in question that the matter be kept private and not politicized,” said Speaker Edgmon.

“I also feel the need to respond to a remark Senator Wilson attributed to me. I did not, at any point, express a desire to let Senator Wilson ‘hang and burn’, which he claims originated from a conversation he had with Senate leadership. I find that term highly offensive and derogatory and I would never say that. I don't begrudge Senator Wilson for wanting to clear his name and reputation, but the way he chose to conduct himself today was unfortunate," said Speaker Edgmon