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Hill Sexual Harassment Accuser No-Shows Press Event

M. Reese Everson planned to name sitting member of Congress

Capitol dome. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Capitol dome. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Updated 12:45 p.m. | A woman prepared to reveal the name of a member of Congress who allegedly sexually harassed her pulled out of a Wednesday press conference.

M. Reese Everson was scheduled to speak at a Holiday Inn hotel in Rosslyn, Virginia, but right before the press conference lobbyist Jack Burkman said she would not give an appearance.

An Everson press release said Burkman would be representing her, but Burkman said Everson’s attorney is a woman.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be continuing. I just know I can’t reach Reese so I don’t know if I can continue speaking for her,” he said.

A search in lobbyist databases shows Everson is a registered lobbyist who has done work for Burkman’s firm, JM Burkman & Associates. Burkman confirmed she had worked for his firm.

Everson is a former fellow with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation who previously spoke about facing sexual harassment to both the New York Times and Fox News’ Ingraham Angle.

Virginia Democratic Rep. Bobby Scottconfirmed to Roll Call Wednesday that Everson worked for him during her fellowship, but said “there have been no credible complaints that I’m aware of.”

Earlier this year, Burkman released an ad calling for people to help investigate the 2016 murder of Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich. The subtitles of the ad were in Russian. Far-right internet conspiracy theories have speculated the DNC arranged for Rich’s murder.

Burkman said he spoke Tuesday night with Everson and said she gave no indication she intended to pull out of the press conference.

“Just a no-show,” he said. “I tried.”

After the aborted press conference, Burkman sent a statement saying he would pull out of being Everson’s representative.

“I’ve known Reese Everson professionally for four years. After careful consideration, I have decided to withdraw from representing her in this matter,” Burkman said.

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