Despite losing the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton continues to be a mainstay in the headlines.
On January 26, 2018, The New York Times released a scathing report detailing how Clinton prevented the firing of Burns Strider, a senior advisor on her 2008 presidential campaign, after learning he had been accused of repeatedly sexually harassing another staffer. Over the years, the former First Lady has been much maligned for the unrelenting support she gave her husband after multiple women charged him with sexual misconduct.
Strider was Clinton’s faith outreach advisor during her first presidential bid. According to the Times, “The complaint against Mr. Strider was made by a 30-year-old woman who shared an office with him.” At the time, the staffer informed an executive for the campaign that the former faith advisor had “rubbed her shoulders inappropriately, kissed her on the forehead and sent her a string of suggestive emails, including at least one during the night.” Clinton’s 2008 campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, was informed about the complaint. Doyle allegedly advised the firing of Strider. However, at Clinton’s request, the accused sexual harasser was kept on her team.
In an apparent slap on the wrist, Strider was forced to receive counseling and forgo multiple paychecks. The young woman who accused him of wrongdoing was given a different position. Not named in the Times report, she has also never publicly spoken about her ordeal. The accusations remained unreported for several years. Spurred on by the popular “#MeToo” movement, sources came forward. A Clinton spokesperson released a statement to Fox News. It was from Urecht, Kleinfeld, Fiori, Partners, a law firm that worked for the former First Lady during her 2008 presidential bid.
The missive read, “To ensure a safe working environment, the campaign had a process to address complaints of misconduct and harassment. When matters arose, they were reviewed in accordance with these policies, and appropriate action was taken. This complaint was no exception.”
Fox News reached out to Strider, but he didn’t respond. As Clinton’s faith advisor, he reportedly sent her scripture readings each morning during her 2008 presidential run. According to Amy Sullivan, author of “The Party Faithful: How and Why Democrats are Closing the God Gap,” Strider was one of the first people Clinton hired to help with her 2008 presidential campaign. He apparently both prayed with and for Clinton.
Concerning Strider, Sullivan remarked, “I think she would’ve been extra hesitant to let him go.” In the mid-1990s, Strider served as a youth minister with a Southern Baptist mission in Hong Kong for three years. He’s long been a proponent of Democratic candidates speaking more openly about their faith.”
Referring to Strider, Sullivan said, “He could counter the stereotype of cold, godless Democrats because he was a white good ol’ boy from Mississippi who had a thick, Southern accent and had a story of coming to Christ. That’s not something most Democrats walking into evangelical spaces knowing how to do.”
The disgraced former faith advisor headed an independent organization called Correct the Record that supported Clinton’s 2016 presidential bid. According to the Times, he was fired after working for several months due to workplace problems, which included accusations that Strider harassed a young female aid. Prior to working for Clinton, Strider served as a senior adviser to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democrat-California, from 2003 to 2006.
On the same day the Times report broke, Clinton tweeted, “A story appeared today about something that happened in 2008. I was dismayed when it occurred, but was heartened the young woman came forward, was heard, and had her concerns taken seriously and addressed.” In a second tweet, the embattled former presidential candidate said, “I called her today to tell her how proud I am of her and to make sure she knows what all women should: we deserve to be heard.”
In both of her tweets, Clinton failed to mention the reason she kept Strider on her team after the sexual accusations became known.
Clinton didn’t allow the negative story to ruin her weekend. On January 28, 2018, she made an appearance on video at the Grammy Awards. Along with other musical artists, Clinton read an excerpt from “Fire and Fury,” the controversial, tell-all book about President Trump written by Michael Wolfe. Not surprisingly, the liberal audience members in attendance enthusiastically cheered her recitation.
~ Liberty Planet
