BOSTON — Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo is forming a special committee to investigate reports of inappropriate conduct during an orientation cocktail hour for newly elected lawmakers.
The Boston Globe reported Wednesday that a DeLeo aide said the Democrat has received secondhand reports from some lawmakers about the December event and the matter was referred to an outside consultant who determined the allegation was plausible.
The aide said an ad hoc committee will investigate and decide "whether and how to discipline a member."
DeLeo's office didn't identify who was the focus of the investigation, but according to the Boston Globe, several freshman lawmakers say Dedham Democratic Representative Paul McMurtry is the member accused of the allegations.
McMurtry has served nearly 12 years in the House, and has served as the chairman of the House Personnel Committee.
The Globe reports it spoke with two lawmakers who were told about the alleged groping by the victim as well as a third who claims to have witnessed it.
A sexual harassment scandal last year forced the resignation of the longtime Senate president. Following the scandal, in March 2018 lawmakers unanimously passed changes to House procedures for dealing with instances of sexual harassment.
This may be the first test to see how the legislature handles claims of misconduct against one of its members.
The Dec. 13 reception took place at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The school had organized a three-day orientation for incoming senators and representatives.
Boston 25 News has reached out to McMurty's office for a comment but has not heard back yet.
In an email statement, McMurty told the Globe he denied the allegations and said it was the first he had heard of them, also saying he welcomes an investigation into the issue.