BY:Â
Texas Democratic Congressman Al Green sent an out-of-the-blue press release Monday acknowledging the existence of a previous sexual assault allegation against him, but denying it ever happened.
Green sent an unprompted joint statement to Washington Post reporter Mike DeBonis signed by himself and Green’s former district director, Lucinda Daniels, denying anything untoward happened between the two.
“In the present climate, we wish to jointly quiet any curious minds about our former and present relationship with one another. We are friends, and have long been friends,” they wrote.
A new, out-of-nowhere statement from @RepAlGreen.
Spox: “The attached statement is in reference to a circumstance that occurred in 2008. This circumstance did not involve the Cong. Office, nor the Office of Employment Counsel & did not involve the use of any taxpayer money.” pic.twitter.com/EkK9XrwXDL— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) November 27, 2017
“At an unfortunate time in our lives, when both of our feelings were hurt, we hastily made allegations and charges against one another that have been absolutely resolved. As consenting friends, we both regret our former claims and have since then maintained a respectful friendship,” the statement continued.
“We are friends,” they added for good measure.
“The attached statement is in reference to a circumstance that occurred in 2008,” a Green spokesman told DeBonis. “This circumstance did not involve the Congressional Office, nor the Office of Employment Counsel and did not involve the use of any taxpayer money.”
In 2008, Daniels publicly accused Green of forcing her to have sex with him. Green retaliated with a lawsuit maintaining the sex was consensual and claiming she threatened to sue him for workplace discrimination unless he paid her.
Eventually, both parties dropped their accusations against each other and issued a joint statement similar to Monday’s.
“Congressman Alexander Green and Lucinda Daniels have both resolved and settled their respective disputes without payment, promise or receipt of any money. They regret any circumstances that created this dispute,” attorneys told the Houston Chronicle.
