Hickman Faces Scrutiny For Secret Payoff To Silence Kirby's Sex Scandal.

12 Facts: 

  A further research into the Dan Kirby Sexual Harassment Allegations confirms some new details:
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• The secret settlement was signed on Jeff Hickman's last day as Speaker of The House. Hickman personally signed the documents.
• The settlement was between the House of Representatives, and Ms. Hollie Bishop.
• The money came solely from state funding set aside for the operations of the House.
• Dan Kirby is not a party to the settlement.
• Kirby may face further litigation from Bishop.
• Kirby is NOT bound to silence by the terms of the contract. He can and should make a full accounting of the case. His silence is assumed to infer guilt.
• Speaker-Designate, Charles McCall, still has no authority to make any settlement. He released a statment indicating that his knowledge of the matter was from local media sources.
• Speaker Hickman may be liable for firing a person, as retribution for filing a sexual harassment complaint.
• The speaker is liable for ordering Bishop to stay in a suspected hostile environment and for several weeks after being informed of the complaint.
• Hickman had the payment to Bishop's legal team filed as a payment for cleaning and janitorial services, so as to hide the real nature of the exchange.
• No record of disciplinary action was found, regarding the Kirby misconduct allegations.
• This is not the only incident of a member's misconduct being ignored by Hickman

  Former Speaker, Jeff Hickman may face far more serious trouble than would Dan Kirby. It may well have to be investigated by a state agency, and any prosecution referrals would be forwarded to a state prosecutor.

  Should Bishop have been paid state funds? Yes. Not for the harassment, but for keeping this woman in a suspected hostile environment (Kirby's assistant), and for firing her without cause, 2 months later.
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  Hickman screwed up and he kept it a secret and made us taxpayers pay the bill.

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3 Takeaways: 

•   The Legislature has a long and disgusting history of sexual impropriety by a few members of each party. But this ought to be a wake up call, to clean up the conduct. If a party or a chamber fails to bring meaningful accountability, they risk losing their moral authority to lead.
•   Speaker-Designate, Charles McCall, did hold a legislative workshop on the issue, even before the Kirby detals were made public. This is a good first start. But under no circumstance will the voters of this state tolerate such abuse of a high state institution.
•   We await the decision of the Republican leadership, regarding Dan Kirby's appointment to Chair the committee on Business, Commerce, & Tourism. Until Kirby gives a full accounting for his actions, there ought be no leadership appointments.

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  For further background reading, see:

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​Unknown State House Official Pays Off Sexual Harassment Claim Against Rep. Dan Kirby, With State Funds

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​​​Democrats Demand "Complete & Immediate" Kirby Investigation​​