{"id":15341,"date":"2020-07-23T01:08:46","date_gmt":"2020-07-23T08:08:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=15341"},"modified":"2020-07-23T01:08:48","modified_gmt":"2020-07-23T08:08:48","slug":"pelosi-challenger-shahid-buttar-accused-of-sexual-harassment-misogyny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2020\/07\/23\/pelosi-challenger-shahid-buttar-accused-of-sexual-harassment-misogyny\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelosi challenger Shahid Buttar accused of sexual harassment, misogyny"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By\u00a0Joe Eskenazi<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Jul 21, 2020\u00a0|\u00a0MissionLocal.org<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pelosi<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shahid Buttar has denied accusations of sexual harassment from a former colleague and misogyny from former staffers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The campaign of Shahid Buttar, the attorney hoping to unseat Rep. Nancy Pelosi from the left, is mired in a chaotic stretch, beset by allegations of sexual harassment from an acquaintance and of misogyny by numerous former campaign staffers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, East Coast comedian Elizabeth Croydon publicly accused Buttar<\/a> of ongoing and persistent sexual harassment starting in the early 2000s; she said Buttar incessantly pressed her for sex against her wishes and, on at least one occasion, made unwelcome physical contact with her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Croydon also alleges that in the early 2010s, Buttar mocked and belittled her regarding her decision to remain celibate \u2014 despite being told, repeatedly, this was a method of coping with past sexual assaults. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not coming out because he\u2019s making a name for himself. I\u2019m coming out because he\u2019s seeking a high seat of power,\u201d Croydon told Mission Local. \u201cAnd he needs to be completely trustworthy. And predators aren\u2019t trustworthy. I wish I had come out earlier.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also this week, the Democratic Socialists of America\u2019s San Francisco chapter began the process of potentially rescinding its endorsement of Buttar. The resolution<\/a> cites Croydon\u2019s allegations \u2014 but doesn\u2019t end there. One of its five clauses reads:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHEREAS <\/em><\/strong>Shahid Buttar mismanaged his campaign by treating his campaign team, specifically the women, in a belittling, demeaning, hyper controlling and abusive manner. The Shahid Buttar campaign has had massive turnover for months because of Shahid\u2019s behavior with many key staff positions still not filled.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The resolution<\/a> was signed by more than 40 DSA members, including state senate candidate Jackie Fielder and Supervisor Dean Preston. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In both a Twitter chain<\/a> and in an interview with Mission Local, Buttar denied Croydon\u2019s allegations categorically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel very strongly that survivors need to be heard. I\u2019m grateful that all the facts may come out,\u201d he said. \u201cShe describes a communal and group house I had in D.C. in 2005 to 2008. We were both performers in a group called D.C. Guerilla Poetry Insurgency. This was a place we frequently held events. That much is true. The rest is not.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The candidate also denied fostering a misogynistic, toxic workplace atmosphere. Rather, he cited \u201cperformance challenges\u201d from \u201ca number of staff: Some women, some men.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n