The full investigative report into allegations of professional misconduct and sexual harassment against Representative Matt Manweller was released on Wednesday afternoon. The report includes information obtained during the interviews of 15 current and former female Central Washington University (CWU) students as well as several witnesses.
According to the 85-page report,
“A preponderance of the evidence supported a finding that Manweller engaged in a pattern of unprofessional and inappropriate behavior with gender-based and sexual overtones with female students and former students from 2004-2017.”
Conduct detailed in the report include “communications with sexual or romantic overtones,” “asking inappropriate personal questions,” “offering an educational benefit in exchange for sex,” and “compliments based on physical characteristics.”
The report also includes Manweller’s responses to the allegations put forth by the current and former students.
In response to the allegations made in the report, Manweller released a video in which he describes the allegations as “trivial or even nitpicky” in nature. Manweller had previously described the investigation as a witch hunt by CWU. In a statement to iFIBER ONE, he said,
“The people who know me, know what type of person I am. They know this investigation is nothing more than a witch hunt by a liberal university to target one of their only conservative professors.”
In the video released today, Manweller added,
“I think it’s kind of unusual that Central Washington University only investigates me in election years.”
Manweller is currently running against Democrat Sylvia Hammond for State Representative in the 13th Legislative District. Primary results show him with a nearly 27 point lead over Hammond.
Manweller was fired by CWU earlier this month following the university’s investigation. Manweller quickly sued the university claiming he was wrongfully fired and is seeking $2 million in damages.
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