Businessman and Republican nominee for governor, Brian Kemp, is calling for Democrat Lt. Governor nominee, Sarah Riggs Amico, to withdraw from the race after one of Amico’s businesses, Jack Cooper Transport Inc., was sued by 11 former employees claiming sexual harassment, racial discrimination and a hostile work environment. Cooper is a specialty transportation and logistics company.
“The lawsuit filed against Jack Cooper is disturbing,” said Kemp. “Nearly a dozen victims have come forward with stories of racial discrimination and sexual harassment. These men and women were forced to work in a hostile work environment while Amico made millions and did nothing. Even worse, Amico doesn’t believe the victims. She won’t take action. Amico refuses to take responsibility for the culture of racism, discrimination, and sexual harassment fostered under her leadership .
“This type of behavior is unacceptable and disqualifying. It is time for Sarah Riggs Amico to end her campaign for Lt. Governor,” Kemp added. “She should listen to the victims and apologize for the hurt they have endured while working at Jack Cooper. Amico should be held accountable for her inaction.”
“Victims deserve a champion – not an enabler – at the State Capitol. I urge Stacey Abrams to join me in calling for Sarah Riggs Amico to withdraw from the Lt. Governor’s race. This goes beyond politics or differences in ideology. This is about doing the right thing. We must stand up for the victims.”
The suit details claims of several African Americans who said they were ridiculed in jokes, worked worse shifts, were slower to be promoted, and quicker to be fired that their white counterparts.
Amico’s press secretary sent a statement from the candidate which began with accusations that the Georgia GOP was using this as a “distraction.” The statement also included the following:
“The claims made against a subsidiary of my company and one of its employees are completely without merit; we are confident the final outcome of court proceedings will confirm this. The GOP is simply seeking to divert attention from Kemp’s record as Secretary of State which has been marred by claims of voter suppression, voter purges, efforts to close polling places in precincts with large minority voter populations, and his unfortunate choice to point a shotgun at a young man in a campaign commercial. Like Georgia voters, I questioned Brian Kemp’s judgement long before his laughably-misleading press release today.”
The statement also included the following: “Sadly, this is what happens when an actual outsider starts to shake up the political establishment, threatening to bring accountability to career Republican politicians under the Gold Dome.
“I am proud of my track record at Jack Cooper, and of our Company’s strong anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies. Neither I, nor our company and its management, would ever tolerate discrimination of any kind.
“As the Executive Chairperson of one of America’s largest certified Women-Owned Business Enterprises, I am proud of my work to improve the company’s performance while simultaneously diversifying our senior management and Board…”
It’s interesting to note than in an October speech, Amico said she wasn’t sure that Republican Brian Kemp, if elected, would make it four years in the #MeToo movement era.
It was reported that at that meeting, Amico told a room that the Lieutenant Governor’s office is an “undervalued” office in Georgia, but described the job as one responsible for filling in for the Governor if he or she is out of the state or if the Governor is removed from office.
“And I would say that normally that that’s probably a very unlikely event, but let’s be honest, if we got, if we had Governor Brian Kemp in sort of the Me Too Era, I’m not sure it’s guaranteed that he’ll make it four years,” Amico told the crowd.
