Urban says Esty's daughter tried to convince her to back off criticism
Stonington — State Rep. Diana Urban, D-North Stonington, said Sunday that the daughter of embattled U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5
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District, had asked her to "back off" her call that her mother must resign.
Urban, who has worked with both women at the Capitol, said she told Sarah Esty that she would not withdraw her call for Esty to step down in the wake of the scandal involving Esty’s former chief of staff.
"I told her I’m sorry but I’m not backing down on this," Urban said. "Stop with the damage control. What she did was wrong. You did not defend a woman who sorely needed your help."
Urban continued, "This is a watershed moment in our history. We are finally paying attention to things that are happening to women in the workplace. We are not talking (political) party here. It's about what’s right and wrong."
Esty’s Washington and Connecticut offices did not return calls for comment on Sunday about Sarah Esty’s call on Sunday to Urban. Esty said Saturday she will not step down.
Elected officials and leaders from both parties have called on Esty to resign after it came to light last week that she kept her former chief of staff, Tony Baker, on her payroll after learning he had been accused of intimidation, harassment and physical violence.
It is alleged Baker left threatening messages on the cellphone of another staffer, Anna Kain, and punched her in the back.
Esty eventually fired Baker, but wrote him a recommendation that helped him land a job with Sandy Hook Promise, an anti-gun-violence group formed in the wake of the mass school shooting in Newtown. Esty, who has been at the forefront of the #MeToo movement in Washington, used taxpayer funds to pay Baker a $5,000 severance.
Urban said Sunday that it was Esty’s assistance in helping Baker land the Sandy Hook job that especially angered her.
Urban said Sarah Esty told her Sunday that there were things she did not understand about the case and which were not being covered by the media. Urban said Sarah Esty, who has a law degree from Yale University, said her mother signed a non-disclosure agreement based on advice of labor attorneys.
"If one of my people was being harassed, threatened and hit, I don’t care what any lawyer told me, he’d be gone," Urban said.
Urban, who has been in the legislature for the past 18 years, said she served with Esty and knows she is a smart woman.
"But I’m sorry, Elizabeth Esty, you did not defend this woman," Urban said.
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