Damien Jones (center) with Beto O'Rourke (left)
Damien Jones, who recently served as Beto O'Rourke's regional political director during his unsuccessful senate bid, is named in a new lawsuit suit against Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Texas) and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation for their handling of a rape allegation against him.
A former CBCF intern alleges in the lawsuit that she was raped by Jones, who at the time was 30 years old and the CBCF's intern coordinator, in October 2015 when she was 19 years old, according to BuzzFeed. The intern alleging Jones raped her is identified in court papers by the pseudonym Jane Doe.
According to the complaint, on Oct. 24, 2015, Jones invited Jane Doe to dinner, where she says he ordered a large quantity of drinks. She alleged that he then took her back to his home, poured more drinks, and that her memory became foggy about the rest of the night. She said she sent a series of text messages to a friend that night including, "Help," "I'm want t[sic] to go home," and "I'm ready to cry," and told the friend she was with the intern coordinator but did not know where she was.
The woman said she remembered Jones engaging in sexual activity with her, including forcing her to perform oral sex. In the complaint she said she did not consent to any sexual activity. The next morning, she said she woke up naked in Jones' bed "with his arms and legs around her," and left. She said she experienced pain in her vagina and elsewhere on her body.
Jane Doe said later that day she texted Jones to ask what happened, and he replied, "Nothing. You threw up everywhere. That's it." When she asked why she was naked, he told her to call him. Jane Doe says that he told her that he took off her clothes and put her in the shower, and he denied they had sex.
The lawsuit does not indicate whether criminal charges were brought against Jones and there is no criminal case against him in the District of Columbia Superior Court. However, the lawsuit does say Jane Doe told the CBCF in October 2016 that she planned to file a lawsuit, but decided not to do so at the time.
Jones did not return requests for comment to Buzzfeed about the rape allegation, but Chris Evans, a spokesperson for the O'Rourke campaign, sent an email saying, "The Beto for Texas campaign was absolutely not aware of these allegations until today and no longer has a relationship with Damien Jones."
Jones worked on O'Rourke's campaign from March 2018 until election day when Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) defeated the former Democratic congressman. While Jones has attempted to paint himself as someone who respects women–including through some comments on social media–his Twitter profile is full of hypocrisies as he objectifies them and judges them based on their looks.
I wish I still lived in phoenix. That is the best place for everything. And the women were amazing! But I'm in Houston. (Deep sigh.)
— Damien Jones (@iamdamienjones) October 24, 2009
He commented multiple times on the "eye candy" and potential "soulmates" a man might find at Wal-Mart.
Fellas, stay out of Wal-Mart with ur women. Go by urself or with ur boys. All this eye candy in here will have yall sleeping on the couch!
— Damien Jones (@iamdamienjones) February 21, 2010
If you want to see some beautiful but scantily clad women, don't go to the club, take a stroll through Wal-Mart. You may find ur soulmate.
— Damien Jones (@iamdamienjones) April 22, 2011
At one point in 2010, he told men to "Stop using our women for their bodies and highlight their minds. Respect a womans right to celibacy and her right to say no. Be a real man."
Stop using our women for their bodies and highlight their minds. Respect a womans right to celibacy and her right to say no. Be a real man.
— Damien Jones (@iamdamienjones) March 17, 2010
But his tweets objectifying women and commenting on his relationships with them continued.
I used to date this girl with a kid. I got real attached to the kid. She was a terrible 2 when i met her. I used to beat her ass.
— Damien Jones (@iamdamienjones) August 7, 2011
From a male perspective, its too many to choose from in the church. That's why I go. I look at the women most of the service @yesitismia
— Damien Jones (@iamdamienjones) March 12, 2011
How many did u smash? RT @GregDoesntCare: Bethune-Cookman has the worst looking girls of any HBCU campus.
— Damien Jones (@iamdamienjones) September 4, 2011
Good morning fam! Which one of you ladies wanna come cook me breakfast this morning? ………..Don't all speak at once. Raise ur hands…..
— Damien Jones (@iamdamienjones) March 12, 2011
She didn't actually say "fuck you" but I felt it in her voice. She said I abandoned her. Story of my life.
— Damien Jones (@iamdamienjones) October 12, 2011
