The Metro DC Democratic Socialists announced that evidence it received “gave us significant concern” and therefore is “suspending all chapter activities in support of the Brandy Brooks campaign” and will soon vote whether to revoke its endorsement of her candidacy for Montgomery County Council at Large.
The group’s steering committee tweeted that it “was made aware of credible allegations of persistent sexual harassment by endorsed candidate Brandy Brooks towards one of her employees,” adding, “We are not taking these allegations lightly.”
Committee members met with Brooks on April 12 to hear her response. “At no point did she deny the allegations against her,” according to a tweet.
Montgomery County chapter members submitted a resolution to revoke Metro D.C. DSA’s endorsement of Brooks, and that vote is expected to be held “in the near future.”
The committee members also noted that Brooks “had walked back the internal accountability process laid out by the campaign.”
Brooks announced she was taking a break from her campaign. “I am taking a period of two weeks to care for myself and reflect with my trusted advisors about an ongoing issue,” she tweeted.
Campaign Manager Michelle Whittaker told My MCM, “She is not leaving the race. This is just a brief pause in the activities of the campaign.” Whittaker noted that “a staffer” complained about a hostile work environment.
Brooks is one of six candidates running for four at-large seats on the county council. The other candidates are incumbents Gabe Albornoz, Evan Glass and Will Jawando, attorney Scott Goldberg and former Gaithersburg councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles.
Our full statement on the Brandy Brooks campaign: https://t.co/Yloo91c6kY pic.twitter.com/O0LQDSm6V9
— Metro DC DSA (@mdc_dsa) April 14, 2022
