Connecticut Rep. Esty not seeking re-election to House

[April 03, 2018]    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Connecticut Democrat Elizabeth Esty announced on Monday that she will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in November, just hours after she asked the Ethics Committee to expedite its review of her August 2016 dismissal of a staffer.

Esty dismissed her former top aide, Tony Baker, after learning in May 2016 of allegations that he had harassed a junior staffer in her office, her letter to the House Ethics Committee said.

Esty said in announcing her decision not to run for re-election that she "could have and should have done better" to protect women in her office from harassment.

"In Congress, and workplaces across the country, we need stronger workplace protections and to provide employees with a platform to raise concerns, address problems, and work to reduce and eliminate such occurrences," Esty said in a statement.

Baker is alleged to have verbally and physically assaulted the junior staffer, and went on to receive a small severance payment and letter of recommendation when he left Esty's office, according to news reports.

Esty, 58, is a third-term representative who was first elected in 2012. She is the 20th House Democrat to announce she will not seek re-election in November. More than 40 House Republicans have said they will not seek re-election.

All 435 House seats are up for grabs in November and Democrats would need to gain about two dozen seats to regain control of the House.

Esty represents a district in Connecticut where the governor, both U.S. senators and all U.S. House members are Democrats.

(Reporting By Amanda Becker and Richard Cowan; Editing by Tom Brown)

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