Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D., Conn.) is calling for the House Ethics Committee to review her response to allegations a former top staffer physically abused and sexually harassed another senior advisor.
Esty, facing calls to resign from a number of state and national lawmakers, made the request on Monday, the Washington Post reports.
"Although we worked with the House Employment Counsel to investigate and ultimately dismiss this employee for his outrageous behavior with a former staffer, I believe it is important for the House Ethics Committee to conduct its own inquiry into this matter," Esty said in a statement.
"It certainly was far from a perfect process — and I would appreciate their advice, counsel, and review," Esty said. "In seeking this inquiry, I want to clarify whether there was any wrongdoing on my part."
The Post reported last week that Esty learned in 2016 of allegations that chief of staff Tony Baker had threatened to kill, sexually harassed, and physically harmed a colleague on Esty's staff. The congresswoman, however, kept him on staff for three months before he left to work for gun control group Sandy Hook Promise. Baker left Esty's office with a letter of recommendation and a severance of approximately $5,000.
Esty said she plans to reimburse the U.S. Treasury for Baker's severance, but has still faed criticism for how she handled the matter. The Connecticut Democrat has been a prominent member of the #MeToo movement, even calling for former Rep. John Conyer's (D., Mich.) resignation last year after he was accused by multiple woman of sexual misconduct.