Bertrand calls for Iowa majority leader to resign, citing $2.2M sexual harassment award

SIOUX CITY - State Sen. Rick Bertrand, R-Sioux City, called Wednesday for Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix to step down in the wake of a jury awarding $2.2 million to a former Senate Republican caucus aide who sued the state and others for sexual harassment.

Bertrand said the damage wrought by the lawsuit necessitates a change in leadership.

'After learning the facts of this lawsuit, and reading the shocking testimony of the current caucus staff, I believe it's time for Senator Dix to step aside as majority leader and allow the Senate Republican caucus a fresh start,” Bertrand said in a statement.

The lawsuit, filed by former Republican caucus communications director Kirsten Anderson, alleged that her abrupt 2012 firing was retribution for her delivery of a memo detailing sexual harassment in the office. This harassment consisted mostly of obscene jokes and conversations.

In a statement, Senate Democratic Minority Leader Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids shamed his Republican colleagues for their behavior, which cost the state a multimillion-dollar payout.

'If the Senate's policies and procedures had been followed, this $2.2 million verdict could have been avoided and taxpayers wouldn't have to pay the bill for the inappropriate actions of Republican senators and staff,” Hogg said in the statement.

Gov. Kim Reynolds confirmed Tuesday that the $2.2 million awarded to Anderson would be taken from the state's general fund.

In his statement, Bertrand said it wouldn't be out-of-character for Dix to have dismissed Anderson out of wrath.

'Senator Dix has a pattern of retaliation, we all know that, and unfortunately power has that effect on some people, and this jury did not believe that Ms. Anderson was justly fired, and ultimately her dismissal was Bill Dix's decision, and that lack of judgement has consequences,” Bertrand said in the statement.