Report details sexual misconduct by ex-ally of Iowa governor
IOWA CITY, Iowa — An agency director who was a top ally of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds committed a range of sexual misconduct, harassment and inappropriate behaviour that went on for years, an independent investigation concluded Thursday.
Iowa Finance Authority Director Dave Jamison grabbed one subordinate’s breasts in front of several colleagues, and watched a pornographic video in front of the woman during a different trip, the report found. Jamison repeatedly made crude sexual comments to that woman and a second female employee whom he asked to come to his hotel room during travel, it said.
Jamison, 60, also routinely made inappropriate jokes and obscene gestures in front colleagues and left the office by mid-afternoon to drink and socialize with his top staff at two bars, the report found. He created a Snapchat group for his top aides that he named “IFA Trouble” and frequently travelled to conferences with female aides where he drank heavily, the report found.
Reynolds fired Jamison, whom she had known for two decades, in March after the pornography incident prompted two women to complain to the governor. Reynolds ordered the investigation in April amid questions about how her administration handled the case.