Manweller needs to resign from legislature

| September 6, 2018 3:00 AM

The independent investigation presented a long pattern of predatory behavior by Matt Manweller. 15 different women and more than 20 corroborating witnesses provided extremely troubling accounts of the behavior they were subjected to.

Here’s a summary: two women were offered a good grade in exchange for sex, six women were physically touched, six women received communications with sexual or romantic overtones, five women were asked inappropriate personal questions, seven women were subjected to him acting inappropriately in his office, nine women were “body scanned,” seven women received compliments based on physical characteristics, four women were put in situations that made it difficult to end the encounter, three women received communications after indicating unwelcomeness, five women experienced behavior that negatively impacted the student’s educational experience in some way, three men and four women reported actions that made third-party observers uncomfortable, three women reported conduct that was welcome at the time but is now perceived as inappropriate and unprofessional, nine women report other unwelcome or inappropriate attention.

It should also be noted that Manweller did not deny almost all of the accusations. He said he couldn’t remember them. When asked if it was possible that he did these things, he either said he didn’t know or he changed the subject. The only defense he is offering is an accusation against the investigator and the university. He has no defense against the specific allegations of the 15 women who came forward.

Matt, it’s time to step down. The people of the 13th Legislative District deserve a representative that they can trust. If you were innocent, you never would have put yourself in the situations that the most recent allegations occurred. If we can’t trust you with our daughters, how could we trust you with our laws?

Matt Paluch

Moses Lake