Some current staffers are confirming some of the sexual harrassment claims by former Iowa GOP caucus communications director Kirsten Anderson.
In day three of her sexual harrassment trial against the state, senate GOP caucus leaders and the Senate Caucus, current staffers John Ashworth and Russ Trimble both cited cases of sexually charged comments by male staffers toward female caucus staffers.
Russ Trimble testified that the comments weren't limited to the caucus leaders. He said he and a female staffer were in a conversation with former state senator Shawn Hamerlinck, where Trimble says Hamerlinck was asking about "the size of her ariolas". Trimble says he "slid away" from that talk.
Anderson was fired from her job with the caucus staff in 2014. She contends that it was because she complained about sexually inappropriate behavior by men toward women staffers. However, caucus staff leaders at the time said it was because of her job performance.
A Polk County District Judge dismissed the case, saying Anderson failed to exhaust administrative remedies. But the Iowa Court of Appeals reversed that decision, ordering the trial to continue. Kirsten Anderson is suing for sexual harrassment and wrongful termination.
The trial continues in Polk County District Court.