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Mary Bono: My silence on sexual harassment while in Congress ‘part of the problem’

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Former Rep. Mary Bono (R-Calif.) on Sunday said her silence about sexual harassment while serving in Congress was “part of the problem.” 

During a panel on ABC News’s “This Week” about sexual harassment, Bono spoke of her own experience  in the House, saying a peer attempted to take her “down a notch in the eyes of my colleagues.” 

{mosads}But Bono argued that women previously “gave up the fight” in regards to sexual harassment, taking responsibility for her own silence.

“My silence is part of the problem too on the Hill,” Bono said.

Former Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, who also appeared on the panel, said the current discourse about sexual harassment will only become “a watershed moment” if men stand with women.

“It will only be watershed moment if men decide to step forward. Women have been stepping forward, as you point out, for a really long time,” Fiorina said. 

“What needs to happen now is the guys need to man up.”

Fiorina argued that must be vocal about not respecting other men who disrespect women.

The panel discussion, which also featured Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), comes as women continue to come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against men in power in the wake of the bombshell allegations levied against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein.

Men in politics, including Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, have also been accused of sexual misconduct recently.

Tags Al Franken Eleanor Holmes Norton Roy Moore

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