Rob Miller's accusers say his alleged actions revealed 'culture of pervasive sexual harassment' in Utah Democratic Party

Seven women, whose accusations led to candidate's exit, assail "unhealthy," "pervasive" problems.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Democratic Party Chairman candidate Rob Miller walks out of a town hall meeting for all chairmen candidates after audience members continued to protest him as he answered questions during the meeting at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. Miller said he was excusing himself from the meeting to avoid any more disruption to meeting. Members of the audience stood with their backs to the candidates as Miller tried to answer questions. The town hall comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Rob Miller, a Utah Democratic Party Chairman candidate introduces himself during a town hall meeting for all chairman candidtes at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City Wednesday June 7, 2017. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Moderator Scott Howell, center, ask audience members who stood with their backs to Democratic Party Chairman candidate Rob Miller while he was speaking, to please move to the back of the room so people could see, during a town hall meeting for candidates at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Audience members stand with their backs to Democratic Party Chairman candidates during a town hall meeting for candidates at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City Wednesday June 7, 2017. The meeting momentarily spun out of control as other protestors stood with their backs to the candidates as candidate Rob Miller, tried to answer questions. Miller said he was excusing himself from the meeting to avoid any more disruption. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Moderator Scott Howell, center back, asks audience member Tina Escobar Taft, center front, to not say another word or he would have her removed from a town hall meeting for Democratic Party Chairman candidates at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City Wednesday June 7, 2017. The meeting momentarily spun out of control as other protestors stood with their backs to the candidates as candidate Rob Miller, tried to answer questions. Miller said he was excusing himself from the meeting to avoid any more disruption. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Moderator Scott Howell, center, ask audience members who stood with their backs to Democratic Party Chairman candidate Rob Miller, far right, while he was speaking, to please move to the back of the room so people could see, during a town hall meeting for candidates at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City Wednesday June 7, 2017. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

As Rob Miller, a Utah Democratic Party Chairman candidate speaks, audience members stand arm-in-arm with their backs to him and all of the candidates during a town hall meeting at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City Wednesday June 7, 2017. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller.

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Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Democratic Party Chairman candidate Rob Miller walks out of a town hall meeting for all chairmen candidates after audience members continued to protest him as he answered questions during the meeting at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. Miller said he was excusing himself from the meeting to avoid any more disruption to meeting. Members of the audience stood with their backs to the candidates as Miller tried to answer questions. The town hall comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Rob Miller, a Utah Democratic Party Chairman candidate introduces himself during a town hall meeting for all chairman candidtes at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City Wednesday June 7, 2017. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Moderator Scott Howell, center, ask audience members who stood with their backs to Democratic Party Chairman candidate Rob Miller while he was speaking, to please move to the back of the room so people could see, during a town hall meeting for candidates at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Audience members stand with their backs to Democratic Party Chairman candidates during a town hall meeting for candidates at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City Wednesday June 7, 2017. The meeting momentarily spun out of control as other protestors stood with their backs to the candidates as candidate Rob Miller, tried to answer questions. Miller said he was excusing himself from the meeting to avoid any more disruption. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Moderator Scott Howell, center back, asks audience member Tina Escobar Taft, center front, to not say another word or he would have her removed from a town hall meeting for Democratic Party Chairman candidates at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City Wednesday June 7, 2017. The meeting momentarily spun out of control as other protestors stood with their backs to the candidates as candidate Rob Miller, tried to answer questions. Miller said he was excusing himself from the meeting to avoid any more disruption. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Moderator Scott Howell, center, ask audience members who stood with their backs to Democratic Party Chairman candidate Rob Miller, far right, while he was speaking, to please move to the back of the room so people could see, during a town hall meeting for candidates at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City Wednesday June 7, 2017. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune As Rob Miller, a Utah Democratic Party Chairman candidate speaks, audience members stand arm-in-arm with their backs to him and all of the candidates during a town hall meeting at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City Wednesday June 7, 2017. The meeting comes after party officials had a meeting about what to do with allegations about sexual harassment against Miller.

By Matthew Piper The Salt Lake Tribune

· June 10, 2017 10:18 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The seven women whose allegations ended Rob Miller's bid to lead Utah's Democrats say the party should continue an investigation of Miller because "a culture of pervasive sexual harassment has been revealed."

The group, which includes a former Salt Lake County Democratic chairwoman and a former state Senate candidate among other well-known Democrats, sent a letter to party leadership Thursday after Miller announced his exit from the race to become chairman and his withdrawal from the party.

"Although Mr. Miller has stated that he will not continue to seek office within the Party, the nature of these and other allegations are grave, and extend beyond Mr. Miller's behavior," they wrote.

Miller has denied the group's allegations that he kissed, hugged and touched women without their consent, that he pulled down his pants to expose Mormon undergarments, and that he made inappropriate comments. He said Thursday that he was "not perfect" and "may have said to somebody, 'You look sexy,' " if he'd perceived that they had low self-esteem and they'd asked him how they looked.

The seven women wrote Thursday that the party should investigate the involvement of previous and current members of the party's executive committees "to determine failures and flaws in our current reporting system."

"We believe that through the exposure of our experiences, and through the bravery of other men and women stepping forward to share their experiences, a culture of pervasive sexual harassment has been revealed," they wrote. "This culture is unhealthy to the party, its members, and our elections, and should be eradicated in whatever manner possible."

Utah Democratic Party Chairman Peter Corroon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Friday morning.

Party delegates will elect a new chairman or chairwoman at a June 17 state convention, from a field that includes Nadia Bowman, Leonardo Gutierrez, Neil Hansen, Ed Schwartz, Sarah Scott, Daisy Thomas, Julianne Waters and Archie Williams.

mpiper@sltrib.com

Twitter: @matthew_piper