Former Sen. Jeff Kruse Hits Back at Former Interns Who Sued Him for Harassment

"In a world where it's he said against she said, she always wins," Kruse tells the Roseburg News-Review.

Sen. Jeff Kruse
By Nigel Jaquiss

Former Sen. Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg) resigned from the Legislature in disgrace last February amid sexual harassment allegations. But he signaled today that he's going to fight a lawsuit newly filed against him and others.

Related: Two Former Legislative Interns File Lawsuit Against Sen. Peter Courtney, Former State Sen. Jeff Kruse and Legislative Counsel Dexter Johnson

The new lawsuit alleges that lawmakers and legislative legal and human resources staff knew for years that Kruse was a serial harasser, yet they did nothing when two interns who worked directly for Kruse, Adrianna Martin-Wyatt and Anne Montgomery, complained about his behavior, nothing was done.

Kruse, 67, who served in the Legislature from 1996 though 2018, told his hometown newspaper today that he doesn't think much of the interns' lawsuit.

"Quite honestly I think there's two young ladies that some lawyer has convinced them they can make money," Kruse told the News-Review. "So, how they come up with those figures is beyond me. Millions of dollars? Give me a break."

Although a legislative investigation last year and a subsequent investigation by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries released in January documented numerous instances of harassment by Kruse, the told the News Review he can't get a fair shake.

"Once again in a world where it's he said against she said," Kruse told the News- Review, "she always wins."

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