DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds declined in March to order an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against one of her top allies, opting instead to fire him immediately. Now her abrupt dismissal of Iowa Finance Authority director Dave Jamison could become a legal problem.
The Reynolds administration is opposing a request by Jamison to collect unemployment benefits following his March 24 firing. The state’s opposition was first reported Friday by Iowa Public Radio, which says a hearing is scheduled June 5.
The burden will fall on the state to prove Jamison committed workplace misconduct that should disqualify him from benefits. That could be hard since the state never investigated the harassment allegations that two of Jamison’s subordinates made to the governor’s chief of staff on March 23.
Records show the governor’s office considered whether to put Jamison on leave so the state could investigate, but declined once the governor ordered Jamison’s termination. Now multiple investigations are underway.
