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A10 WORLD NEWS
Monday 6 noveMber 2017

Harassment reports rock UK Parliament as scandal spreads

By GREGORY KATZ Office inquiry into Green’s ple uncomfortable. Char-
Associated Press behavior started after a lie Elphicke, a member of
LONDON (AP) — The scan- woman complained that Parliament, has been sus-
dal surrounding Britain’s Green touched her knee pended from the Conser-
political class deepened at a meeting in a pub and vative Party because of
Sunday with more allega- later sent her an inappro- what the party calls “seri-
tions of sexual harassment, priate text message. ous allegations” that have
abuse of power and other The allegations swirling been referred to police. He
misdeeds, including new through the British govern- has denied wrongdoing.
claims involving a key ally ment in the aftermath of More accusations also
of Prime Minister Theresa Hollywood’s Harvey Wein- have surfaced against Fal-
May.The allegations dat- stein abuse scandal go far lon, who stepped down
ing back more than a de- beyond Green and former from the defense post and
cade involve behavior that Defense Secretary Michael apologized after a news-
ranges from inappropriate Fallon, who stepped down paper reported that he
touching and sending sug- last week after reports of had repeatedly touched a
gestive text messages to inappropriate behavior by journalist’s knee at a func-
matters serious enough to him surfaced. tion in 2002.The Observer
be reported to police for A rising number of legisla- newspaper reported Sun-
possible prosecution. tors from the Conservative day that Fallon had alleg-
First Secretary of State Da- and Labour parties face edly tried to kiss a young
mian Green, a senior Cabi- similar allegations, and reporter on the lips when
net figure who is in effect politicians in Scotland and she was having lunch with
May’s deputy, emphati- Wales have been caught him in 2003.
cally denied a Sunday up as well.The Welsh gov- The allegation was report-
Times report that police ernment’s Cabinet secre- ed to government officials
had found “extreme” por- tary for communities and hours before Fallon’s res-
nography on his computer This July 4, 2016 photo shows Britain’s First Secretary of State children, Carl Sargeant, ignation.Home Secretary
during an investigation Damian Green in London. The scandal surrounding Britain’s po- said he resigned Friday Amber Rudd said the be-
nine years ago. He said litical class deepened Sunday Nov. 5, 2017, with more allega- after allegations of his havior described by the
tions of sexual harassment, abuse of power and other misdeeds
he is the victim of a smear including new allegations about one of Prime Minister Theresa misconduct were made. Observer, if the paper’s re-
campaign.Green already May’s key allies. First Secretary of State Damian Green, a senior The government’s leader port was accurate, would
was being investigated for Cabinet figure who is in effect May’s deputy, denied a Sunday said Sargeant had been be “completely disgusting.
alleged inappropriate ad- Times claim that police had found “extreme” pornography on removed from his post ”She said Britain is having a
vances on a Conservative his computer during an investigation nine years ago. pending an investigation. “watershed moment” with
Party activist. He called (Andrews Matthews/PA via AP) Sargeant has asked for regard to harassment of
the Sunday Times story material and computer, keep the details of police an independent inquiry to women and that the wave
“completely untrue” and now nine years old, are investigations confidential, clear his name. of accusations would bring
said it came from an un- false, disreputable political and amount to little more He apologized and said about a “clear out” in gov-
trustworthy, tainted police smears from a discredited than an unscrupulous char- behavior he had thought ernment that will leave
source. police officer acting in fla- acter assassination,” Green might be “humorous” or its institutions in better
“The allegations about the grant breach of his duty to said. An official Cabinet “friendly” had made peo- shape.q
Sicilians vote for new governor in last test before 2018

By COLLEEN BARRY running, political polling race. On the other hand, a victo- national politics, with all
Associated Press heading into the vote in- Because of fears of vote ry by the 5-Star movement the major national party
MILAN (AP) — dicated that the race has tampering, the Interior Min- would hand the populist leaders, including former
More than 4.6 million voters narrowed down to a con- istry in Rome has ordered party its first regional ad- Premier Silvio Berlusconi
in Sicily are heading to the test between center-right that no votes be counted ministration, and a com- for the center-right, 5-Star
polls Sunday to pick a new candidate Nello Musumeci until Monday morning plicated one with lagging Movement founder Beppe
regional governor in the and the 5-Star Movement’s A victory by Musumeci economic growth, high Grillo and Democratic
last important vote before Giancarlo Cancelleri. would restore the tradi- youth unemployment and Party leader Matteo Renzi,
a national election early Both parties hope a victory tional political order of the embedded Mafia culture. converging on the island in
next year. will give them momentum island, after four years of a The Sicily vote has turned recent weeks to stump for
While five candidates are heading into the national center-left administration. into a proxy of sorts for their candidates.q