Elizabeth Warren’s Campaign Fires Top Official Following Complaints of ‘Inappropriate Behavior’

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) speaks during a Town Hall at Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire on Sept. 25, 2019. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

The presidential campaign of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) fired a top male official for “inappropriate behavior,” an outcome the official said he accepted.

“Over the past two weeks, senior campaign leadership received multiple complaints regarding inappropriate behavior by Rich McDaniel,” campaign spokesperson Kristen Orthman said in a statement obtained by Politico.

“Over the same time period, the campaign retained outside counsel to conduct an investigation. Based on the results of the investigation, the campaign determined that his reported conduct was inconsistent with its values and that he could not be a part of the campaign moving forward.”

Warren talked about the situation during a speech in Los Angeles late Oct. 4, reported CNN.

“I want us to have a campaign that lives our values and that lifts up inclusivity,” she said. “It is really hard for anyone to come forward with a complaint or with a concern. And the people who did that showed incredible courage, and I am deeply grateful to them,” she said.

“When I first set up this campaign, we put in place a procedure to deal with problems. And in this case, we followed that procedure, we resolved the issue in a very short period of time, and I stand by the process that we put in place.”

In a statement sent to news outlets, McDaniel said he tried to keep his behavior consistent with his own values as well as those of Warren’s campaign.

“I would never intentionally engage in any behavior inconsistent with the campaign or my own values,” McDaniel said. “If others feel that I have, I understand it is important to listen even when you disagree.”

“I have separated from the campaign and am no longer serving as National Organizing Director. I have tremendous respect for my colleagues despite any disagreements we may have had and believe departing at this time is in the best interest of both parties,” he added.

A source told CNN that the investigation, conducted by Kate Kimpel, an outside counsel, did not involve any accusations of sexual assault or rape.

McDaniel is a veteran political campaign worker. His past campaigns include Hillary Clinton, Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ga.), and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.). Jones won a special election in 2017 to take the seat vacated by Sen. Jeff Sessions, who was nominated as attorney general.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he used to work for the Atlanta Falcons. As a suit supervisor, he trained new members and worked on customer service methods.