Schumer Lashes Out on Fake Harassment Document

MANHATTAN (CN) — After several media outlets were pitched a forged document accusing Sen. Chuck Schumer of sexual harassment, the New York Democrat said he is "pursuing every legal path" to get accountability.

The document recited purported allegations by a former Schumer staff aide, but the media outlet Axios said that staffer called the charges untrue when it contacted her.

She also said her signature had been forged. Schumer's office has asked the Capitol Police to investigate.

"It was a phony allegation, forged" and baseless "from start to finish," said Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, on Wednesday.

While no major media outlets took the bait, the far-right Twitter influencers Mike Cernovich and Chuck Johnson appeared to reference the Schumer document in a series of posts this week. Though the posts did not name Schumer, they mentioned a sexual harassment settlement, a senator and "one of Gillibrand's colleagues."

Recently the target of a provocative tweet by President Donald Trump, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is the other Democrat who represents New Yorkers on Capitol Hill.

Trump tweeted: "Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office 'begging' for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!"

A 51-year-old mother of two boys, Gillibrand told NBC's "Today" show on Wednesday that the tweet was "a sexual smear intended to silence me."

When Gillibrand was elected in 2009, she took over the seat given up by Hillary Clinton who was rising to the office of secretary of state. Up for re-election in 2018, Gillibrant is considered a possible presidential contender in 2020 and has been an outspoken voice in the national debate over how to confront sexual assault and harassment.

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