A Missouri political insider has been issued with a restraining order by a judge on Thursday, preventing him from entering within 1,000 feet to the Missouri capitol. It was after legislative interns and employees accused him of sexual harassment.
According to ABC News, David Poger was ordered to keep his distance away from Missouri capitol building as the House is investigating the alleged sexual harassment reported by the interns and employees. The victims requested the restraining order was granted by a Cole County judge.
Poger was a former lobbyist back September to November 2011, according to the Missouri Ethics Commission records. Despite the restraining order, House Chief Clerk Adam Crumbliss reported, Poger still enters the capitol. On Tuesday, according to court records, he was reported to previously commented on an intern's appearance. Another intern said, Poger pushed her intern pin and asked of what he is doing is harassment.
One female also intern said Poger, who came into contact with her in January, would not leave her alone. Even after she tried to pleasantly show she was not interested in having a conversation with him, the Kansas City Star reported. Poger tried to start conversations with her, sit next to her in the Capitol and ask her out to lunch.
LinkedIn page of Poger also stated, he is a senior managing director of Public/Private Sector Strategies in St. Louis, St. Louis Buisness Journal reported. He also claimed on the page that he was working under U.S. Congressman Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, his January Missouri Scout blog indicated. However, a spokesman for Clay said, Poger was not Congressman Clay's employee. In 2004, Poger worked for Democrat Russ Carnahan, a former congressman running for lieutenant governor.
It was also found out that he hasn't been registered to lobby in Missouri in five years, and still unclear why he comes regularly in the Missouri Capitol. Poger could not be immediately reached for comment regarding the case.
