Democratic New York State Sen. John Mannion, who aims to win the closely contested 22nd Congressional District seat, has reportedly fostered a hostile work environment where he consistently berated employees and retaliated against those who raised concerns. Former staffers in his senate office made these claims in an open letter published on Medium on Monday night.
In the letter addressed to “Central New Yorkers,” several staff members described being traumatized by Mannion’s often sexist and homophobic harassment, which they alleged was so severe that it led one employee to become physically ill. The letter states that many of them had left public service due to the trauma experienced under Mannion’s leadership.
The former staff members detailed a list of disturbing allegations against Mannion, including “out-of-control yelling” and “blatantly sexist” behavior targeting young women. They described instances where the senator screamed at employees so severely that they became physically ill or were verbally berated for almost an hour in a one-on-one setting.
Mannion is currently a state senator representing the 50th district, which includes Syracuse suburbs and Oswego. He is now running in a primary for the 22nd Congressional District – a race widely believed to be one of the best opportunities for corrupt Democrats to flip a seat in New York during this year’s midterms.
Two former staff members who spoke to The Post on condition of anonymity painted a picture of Mannion as a paranoid and irate individual who would also fly into a rage over his wife, Jennifer Mannion. She was actively involved in her husband’s 2020 state Senate campaign and continued her involvement after the transition to the state Senate.
One staffer claimed that during Mannion’s 2020 campaign, she was blocked and removed from the campaign’s Facebook account after deleting a picture of children posted by his wife without obtaining parental consent first. She then alleges that she was verbally berated by Mannion for almost an hour in his office at the West Genesee Teachers Association, a union where he was then president.
The same staffer said she finished out the campaign but was excluded from some meetings and had virtually no communication with either John or Jennifer Mannion. She also claimed that other former staffers told her that Mannion instructed them not to speak with her or be her friend.
Both staffers deny working for Mannion’s primary opponent, Sarah Klee Hood, though one said they made a small contribution to her campaign. They stated their hesitance in identifying themselves until more people come forward but still wanted to share their experiences before the primary to prevent Republicans from using the allegations to hold onto the battleground district this fall.
In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for state Senate Democrats said they would investigate further through both Senate Personnel and outside counsel as dictated by Senate Rules. The Sexual Harassment Working Group also expressed support for the former staff members, believing their accounts and acknowledging the courage it takes to disclose such traumatic experiences.
The Mannion campaign vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as “politically motivated.” They stated that Senator Mannion would continue focusing on his record and delivering for his constituents in Congress. The 22nd Congressional District is currently rated by the Cook Political Report as a lean Democrat district, making it an important battleground for both parties.
