Maryland Del. Jay Jalisi Reprimanded For 'Bullying' Staff
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- A Maryland lawmaker has been reprimanded over an ethics panel's findings of an ongoing and unrepentant pattern of bullying and abusive workplace behavior, particularly against female staffers.
The House of Delegates voted 136-0 Wednesday to reprimand Del. Jay Jalisi, a Baltimore County Democrat, after claims that he mistreated his staff since 2015.
The report from the committee concluded that Jalisi fostered, "bullying and abusive workplace behavior toward his staff."
Jalisi, who was absent for the vote, has denounced the accusations against him as a "political hit job" and "a nasty smear campaign."
But an ethics panel of House and Senate lawmakers contends its findings are based on 38 interviews and 18 sworn affidavits.
According to the panel, leadership tried to dissuade the behavior, but the pattern continued.
Jalisi allegedly called a staffer "stupid" and "incompetent," but he called the claims "bogus."
Jalisi told WJZ that the allegations come from people who don't really know him.
"What they are basically doing is telling me they don't like my style, they don't like my tone," he said.
Jalisi isn't the only Maryland politician to get a recent rebuke. Last month, Del. Mary Ann Lisanti was censured after accusations she used a racial slur.
House Of Delegates Unanimously Censure Mary Ann Lisanti
"I think it's important that we do the right thing and ensure that others in our body are doing the right thing," Anne Arundel County Del. Nicholaus Kipke said.
Members of the ethics committee have recommended that Jalisi undergo anger management, and until then, his staff will not be paid.
"If somebody in your administration had an issue with you, they should not cut off the payroll for the people who work under you," Jalisi said. "I mean, they have nothing to do with anything."
Jalisi said that he has staff who have worked for him for years with no complaints. Those staffers issued formal statements of support to the ethics committee.
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