Oregon State Rep. Diego Hernandez, D-Portland, speaks at a rally Sunday, June 24, 2018 in Portland, Ore.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
On the possibility of being the first person ever to be ousted from the legislature, Democratic lawmaker President Diego Hernandez resigns.
“Today I offered my resignation so that my colleagues can focus on serving Oregonians and that I can continue with my life and focus on my health and family,” Hernandez told OPB in a brief statement Sunday night.
Earlier this weekend, a judge rejected Hernandez’s legal attempt to stop the vote on his eviction. The entire House would plan to vote as soon as Tuesday on whether to oust the Portland Democrat after a panel of lawmakers determined he had created a hostile work environment for three women. It would have taken a two-thirds vote or 40 members of the House to oust Hernandez.
The third-term Democratic lawmaker, once considered a rising star of his party, has been plagued for months by allegations of harassment. After an independent investigation, members of the House Conduct Committee determined that he had harassed a hostile workplace at the state Capitol and created for three women.
The women involved in the investigation all worked or had jobs needed at the State Capitol to communicate with the legislature. Conduct committee members found themselves with the women and found that Hernandez used his position of power as an elected official to put pressure on two of them to either resume a relationship with him or jeopardize their careers. Another woman, who had a longer relationship with him, spoke of his controlling and abusive behavior.
Hernandez maintained that he did not have a meaningful opportunity to present his side of the case. He filed a lawsuit that included several text messages with the women who were part of the investigation, and extensive communication records that were not presented during legal hearings about his behavior.
Hernandez’s lawsuit called for a temporary restraint to stop the vote on eviction and to prevent any other sanctions. But U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken made it clear that the Oregon legislature “has the power to police its own members,” and that it has allowed the court to intervene.