A former staffer of Colorado U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn filed a lawsuit Thursday that accuses the Republican of endangering people who worked in his office during the pandemic and of using his political influence to benefit his wife and son.
The lawsuit was filed by former aide Brandon Pope in Washington, D.C., District Court; he claims he got COVID-19 and was ultimately fired in December for speaking out and “for seeking to protect employees from unsafe conditions in the workplace.”
Lamborn, from Colorado Springs, issued a statement through his spokeswoman Cassandra Sebastian: “The workplace safety allegations made by Mr. Pope are unsubstantiated and did not result in the termination of his employment. Congressman Lamborn looks forward to full vindication as all facts come to light.”
Neither Pope nor his attorney returned the Post’s messages seeking comment.
Lamborn needlessly exposed his congressional staff in D.C. to the virus by keeping his office open and not allowing employees to socially distance, the complaint claims.
Members of Lamborn’s staff previously told The Denver Post that at least two people in the office tested positive for the virus in October. During this time, Lamborn reportedly lied to a doctor, saying he had not been in close contact with employees who tested positive. The lawsuit alleges he’d been sleeping in his D.C. office in close proximity to those staffers.
The lawsuit also alleges that one of Lamborn’s staff members said he was going to put his mask on, to which the congressman replied, “well, I don’t care about you guys getting it” and that his his wife also wouldn’t wear a mask because “no one was going to tell (her) what to do.”
The eight-term congressman tested positive for the virus in November. Lamborn did not alter course after he or his staffers contracted the virus, according to the lawsuit.
Aside from concerns about the pandemic, which the lawsuit says Lamborn repeatedly claimed was a “hoax,” the congressman used his staff for the personal benefit of his wife and son.
Lamborn’s son was allowed to live in a storage area of the U.S. Capitol’s basement for weeks when he relocated to D.C., the lawsuit alleges.
“When Lamborn’s son was applying to federal jobs, Lamborn’s Office required Mr. Pope and another staffer to show him how the USA Jobs site worked and to give him tips on completing applications for federal employment,” the lawsuit alleges. Staffers were also required to prepare Lamborn’s son for job interviews and help him “craft responses.”
Michael Ciaglo, Getty Images
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn shakes hands with President Donald Trump on stage during a Keep America Great rally on February 20, 2020, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
In addition, Lamborn’s office reportedly required staff to run personal errands for the congressman’s family, including loading furniture to be moved to their vacation home, picking up their personal mail and carrying their personal legal documents.
“Staff were also made to believe that accepting invitations for family events, including meals with the Lamborn family, was required in order to remain employed,” the lawsuit alleges, adding aides were also “compelled” to give Christmas and birthday gifts to Lamborn and his wife.
Pope alleges Lamborn violated the Congressional Accountability Act, a 1995 law that provides workplace protections to congressional staff. Among other protections, the law prohibits retaliation against congressional employees who speak out against unsafe working conditions.
The Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, which hears complaints filed under that law, did not respond to an email asking if a complaint has been filed against Lamborn.
Pope claims that Lamborn Chief of Staff Dale Anderson would speak over him or shout him down when Pope talked about COVID protocols, the lawsuit alleges, and that Anderson started arguing with Pope or belittling “almost anything (Pope) did, for no valid reason.”
Anderson, who did not return the Post’s message seeking comment, allegedly lied to Lamborn’s district director about Pope, saying he had been belligerent and abrasive.
The lawsuit asks for a trial, seeking unspecified monetary compensation for Pope’s emotional pain and suffering.
