# Denver Mayor Hancock accused of sexual harrassment **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 28, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769 "2018-02-28T19:00:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/1 "2018-02-28T19:00:14Z")
And admits it. Or at least admits sending inappropriate text to a female member of his security when he “misunderstood” their relationship. But he is not resigning (yet). When will people learn that because of power dynamics if you have control of someone’s job ANYTHING inappropriate is sexual harassment. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/2 "2018-02-28T19:07:19Z")
> **[Denver mayor apologizes for texts he sent to woman on his security team](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/denver-mayor-michael-hancock-apologizes-allegations-inappropriate-texts-leslie-branch-wise/)** > > "If you are down here and your boss is up here and he's showering you with these inappropriate texts and sayings and making you feel uncomfortable, who do you tell if he's at the top?" Pretty weak apology, IMO. An “I’m sorry you were offended” type, rather than “I’m sorry I engaged in this gross and inappropriate behavior”. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/3 "2018-02-28T19:11:36Z")
The resignation will come, I expect. He doesn’t need to go to jail, he doesn’t need to go into a hole and die… maybe even with some sincere contrition, and a few years out of the limelight, he could come back as a better person and, potentially, a candidate once again. But the Democratic party can find Mayors and other elected representatives that aren’t harassers or abusers, especially ones that don’t recognize the incredible inappropriateness of sending sexually suggestive texts to a subordinate. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/4 "2018-03-01T18:04:19Z")
I thought he was clueless about power =\> harassment but this guy needs to be out for being a complete fuckin’ idiot. Here are some of the texts > [@Mayor Hancock](#): > > “You look sexy in all that black.” > “Ok, so I just watched this story on women taking pole dancing classes. Have you every (sic) taking one and why do women take the course? If not, have you ever considered taking one and why? Thoughts? Be careful! I’m curious;)!” > “Loved the short doo. You made it hard on a brotha (sic) to keep it correct everyday. :)” His take on the messages he sent? “They certainly are not meant to be sexual in nature.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/5 "2018-03-01T21:57:48Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > His take on the messages he sent? > > “They certainly are not meant to be sexual in nature.” Damn, my eyes rolled so hard they got stuck in the back of my skull, took three facepalms and a bodyplant to jar them loose. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/6 "2018-03-01T22:48:31Z")
Have mayors learned nothing from [Kwame Kilpatrick’s texting fiasco?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwame_Kilpatrick#Text-messaging_scandal) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/7 "2018-03-02T15:59:52Z")
Heh-heh. Hancock. Heh-heh-heh. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/8 "2018-03-02T20:18:41Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I thought he was clueless about power =\> harassment but this guy needs to be out for being a complete fuckin’ idiot. Here are some of the texts > [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Damn, my eyes rolled so hard they got stuck in the back of my skull, took three facepalms and a bodyplant to jar them loose. I feel your pain. _“You make it hard on a brotha”_… really, dude??? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/9 "2018-04-10T19:47:48Z")
The Denver City Council investigated, at the request of the accuser, whether or not they could remove the Mayor. Their conclusion was that they could not. Looks like the voters would have to recall him but that does not appear to be happening. The fact that there is no widespread call for a recall speaks very poorly for the Mile-Highers. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/10 "2018-04-12T13:40:31Z")
There is something seriously amiss here. > [@](#): > > Branch-Wise, who said she does not intend to file a harassment claim, first raised allegations of sexual harassment in 2012 against one of Hancock’s aides, who was fired four days later. The aide then sued for wrongful termination and ultimately settled with the city for $200,000. > > Branch-Wise reached a $75,000 settlement with the city. Now, she says she regrets not holding the mayor accountable as well. The aide harasses her, and gets $200,000. The mayor harasses her, and she gets $75,000. WTF? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/11 "2018-04-12T14:43:52Z")
@Shodan What came out of the City Council investigation is that there is actually no rule against sexual harassment by a public official in Denver. Thus firing the aide for sexual harassment broke the contract and he was entitled to recompense AND that now Hancock did not (as far as Denver is concerned) violate any ethical rules so it is now a political process. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denver-mayor-hancock-accused-of-sexual-harrassment/809769/12 "2018-04-12T18:51:01Z")
Thanks. Regards, Shodan