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Today, Texas Tribune reported that Mayra Flores’s district director is accused of sexually assaulting an intern in her office, following months of alleged harassment and complaints about his predatory behavior.
In June, Aron Peña was apparently dismissed from the Texas Republican Party after an investigation into allegations that Peña had sexually harassed staffers and volunteers. In a statement to Texas Public Radio, Texas GOP Chairman Matt Rinaldi said: “Any person found to have sexually harassed another will face disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from employment […] That process was followed in this instance.”
But in July, after Peña had already left the Texas Republican Party, Rep. Mayra Flores brought Aron Peña onto her official congressional staff as district director – and it was during his time there that he was “accused of touching and kissing an intern […] who worked in Flores’ office without her consent.”
The new reporting raises questions about what Rep. Mayra Flores knew about Peña’s alleged pattern of predatory behavior – and why she brought him on her official side staff after he was investigated for sexual harassment under a previous employer.
“Mayra Flores hired a staffer who had already been dismissed from another organization after they launched an investigation into his predatory behavior,” said DCCC spokesperson Monica Robinson. “Either Mayra Flores knew about Aron Peña’s alleged behavior and hired him anyway, or she failed to check references for a staffer she brought on board, allowing this person to continue his pattern of harassment under her employ. Either way, she utterly failed her responsibility to keep young staffers safe.”
Texas Tribune: District director for U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores resigns amid sexual harassment allegations
By Patrick Svitek
September 16, 2022
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“The district director for Texas’ newest congresswoman, Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, recently resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment.”
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“The Texas Tribune found that Peña’s previous employer, the state Republican Party, had investigated allegations of harassment against him. And when he was then Flores’ district director, he was accused of touching and kissing an intern without her consent in July.”
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“Flores’ office declined any additional comment and would not discuss the specific allegations related to the intern. The office also would not answer questions about when Peña resigned and whether it was before or after the Current Revolt article was published.”
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“[Peña] said he left the Flores campaign due to ‘serious health issues (blood clots in the legs and lungs)’ and so he would not be a ‘distraction in the closing days of an election.’”
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“The allegation against Peña was that he assaulted an intern while driving her and a second intern home at the end of a workday, according to two people familiar with the situation. Peña was said to have dropped off the second intern first, even though it was out of the way, the people said.”
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“Once he was alone with the first intern in the car, he was reported to take longer routes to her house and began touching her and kissing her, despite her telling him to stop, according to the people.”
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“Flores is close to the family. Peña-Garza helped give Flores her start in politics by hiring her as Hispanic outreach chair for the party.”
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“‘Rep. Flores turned a blind eye to his behavior because he came from a connected family — and as a result, a young female staffer was assaulted in her workplace,’ [Vicente] Gonzalez said in a statement. ‘It’s inexcusable and tells you everything you need to know about Mayra Flores’ judgment and character.’”
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“Peña previously worked for the Texas GOP, serving as strategic initiatives director from August 2021 until June 23, 2022, according to a party spokesperson. The party’s chair, Matt Rinaldi, acknowledged in a statement that the party looked into sexual harassment allegations against Peña but declined to provide additional detail, citing a confidential process.”
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“One woman who had been involved in local Republican politics, who also asked to be unnamed because of concerns about retribution, said she became so alarmed with Peña’s behavior that she filed a police report in February, hoping to end what she described as years of harassment and stalking. She said she went in person to the McAllen Police Department and shared her experience with officers at length, but when she later asked for a copy of the report, she was given a summary that omitted many details.”
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