After first dismissing her sex-abuse complaints, Morelle invites victim to State of the Union

ALBANY - Rep. Joseph Morelle invited a victim of sexual abuse in Albany to the State of the Union on Tuesday after he was criticized for dismissing her complaints in 2001 when he was a state lawmaker.

Elizabeth Crothers, who was a legislative aide at the time of the alleged sexual assault, said she looked forward to attending the speech in Washington with Morelle, D-Irondequoit, Monroe County, who was elected to Congress last year.

“Congressman Morelle has taken the time to listen to victims of sexual harassment and assault about our experiences, and how these experiences can help inform policymakers," Crothers said in a statement.

“This is what institutional courage looks like, and I look forward to attending the State of the Union with him.”

Morelle apologized during the campaign for how he treated the allegations against Michael Boxley, a former top aide to then-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver who later pleaded guilty in a separate sexual-assault case.

Initially, Morelle was among some Assembly members who dismissed Crothers' claims against Boxley, telling the Times Union in Albany that, "I absolutely don't believe a word of it."

He and Crothers have talked repeatedly in recent months, leading her to endorse him in the general election after she backed his Democratic primary opponent Rachel Barnhart.

"As a society—and with this president especially—it’s long past time that we recognize sexual assault and harassment survivors, listen to their stories, learn from their experiences, and take action to support them and hold abusers accountable," Morelle said in a statement Tuesday.

"That’s why I am honored to be joined at the State of the Union by Elizabeth Crothers, whose strength and dedication to empowering other survivors demonstrates the very core of what the #MeToo movement seeks to achieve.”

President Donald Trump's speech before Congress gives lawmakers the opportunity to bring guests with them.

Crothers has helped lead the Sexual Harassment Working Group in Albany to push for a legislative hearing and reforms over how complaints are handled at the state Capitol, which has long been criticized for its lax oversight.

The effort by Crothers and the group has led the state Legislature on Feb. 13 to hold its first public hearing on sexual harassment in 27 years.

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