LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – State Reps. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia), Rachelle Smit (R-Martin) and Gina Johnsen (R-Lake Odessa) have called on House Speaker Joe Tate to remove Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) from his role leading the House Labor Committee. The representatives say Haadsma protected a union lobbyist accused of sexual assault.
The legislators held a press conference on Tuesday morning and urged Tate to cooperate with any law enforcement investigations into Haadsma’s actions and remove him as chair of the House Labor Committee.
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Police reports indicate Haadsma admitted to serving as an unofficial “mediator” between Jonathan Byrd, former president of the South Central Michigan AFL-CIO, and an undisclosed female complainant who has said Byrd sexually harassed and assaulted her at a fundraising event in April 2022. The alleged victim did not report the details to police until months after the event and the meeting with Byrd and Haadsma, which took place the following day.
“It seems clear Rep. Haadsma was working to cover up the deplorable acts of a union lobbyist to keep it out of the public’s view,” Rigas said. “Allowing him to continue to lead the House’s Labor Committee after this misguided and coercive action is unacceptable. Representatives have been removed from committees for far less.”
In March, Haadsma presided over a Labor Committee hearing at which Byrd testified in support of the repeal of Michigan’s right-to-work law.
“It seems that House leadership is hoping this scandal will fade away and that the people of Michigan’s won’t notice Rep. Haadsma’s involvement in attempting to silence a victim of sexual misconduct and sweep the actions of a union lobbyist under the rug,” Johnsen said. “He is unfit to lead the committee at this time and should step down from his position.”
The GOP lawmakers said police reports show Haadsma likely knew of the harassment at the time of the mediation, and further investigation is needed.
“Speaker Tate must take these issues seriously and cooperate with law enforcement to get answers for the victim and the people of Michigan,” Smit said
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The speaker’s office has yet to issue a statement on Haadsma or the press conference.
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