Former campaign staff for Democratic U.S. House candidate Jamie McLeod-Skinner have accused him of physically assaulting a driver, Willamette Week reported.
McLeod-Skinner is running He will run as a Democrat in Oregon's 5th Congressional District in 2024. Three former staffers have expressed fear of being near McLeod-Skinner's campaign manager, who physically assaulted him multiple times during his failed 2022 campaign. claims. according to To WW. (Related: 'Out of control': This blue state decriminalizes drugs – now having second thoughts)
McLeod-Skinner's campaign began to falter in October 2022, when she became increasingly angry with her staff and even refused to speak to her campaign manager, staffers told WW. In November of the same year, the flight attendant received a phone call from the driver (a man in his 20s) and wrote down the threats he had received.
“[The driver] “She called me and said… 'She despises me,' she said, 'I'm afraid Jamie is going to hit me,' and several times in the past[he(Hedidnotreportthisbeforehand)thatshehitJamiewhileshewasdriving''thestafferwroteinthememoaccordingtoWW
“I'm worried she's going to hit me,” the campaign promoter said in another text message to senior staff in November 2022, seen by WW. She said: “She hit me a few times when I was driving and stuff, but it wasn't malicious, just to draw attention to the car or something, but now it's different.”
“My name is Jamie McLeod-Skinner. I am passionate about democracy and I am passionate about building good leadership across the state.” – @JamieForOregon #TeamJMS #OregonForJMS pic.twitter.com/JZwb2ZcGwo
— Oregon for JMS (@OregonForJMS) July 26, 2023
Campaign officials told WW on condition of anonymity that in 2022, he was kicked out of the house he was staying in with his girlfriend. The newspaper said it was common for candidates and drivers to share residences while traveling during elections.
“It doesn't matter what caused the physical threat. The mere fact that someone was made to feel that way by a candidate disqualifies that person from representing them as an elected official,” said former McLeod.・Chris Pear, a staff member for Skinner's campaign, told WW. Pear withdrew from McLeod-Skinner's 2024 campaign and advised one of her opponents in a non-staff capacity.
According to WW, McLeod-Skinner rejected the accusations as “outrageous and categorically false” and claimed the story was a political stunt by his political opponents in the campaign. Her campaign released a statement to WW from McLeod-Skinner's wife, Kath, saying the driver was reportedly fired because the candidate felt threatened by him.
McLeod-Skinner had previously been accused of verbal abuse and retaliation by five campaign staffers. according to In the Oregon Chronicle. She had previously been fired from her role as an Oregon city manager for similar offensive behavior.
McLeod-Skinner's campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
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