Former Washington County prosecutor texted shirtless photos to coworkers, investigations finds
PORTLAND, Ore. (Portland Tribune) -- A high-ranking prosecutor in Washington County sexually harassed his coworkers by openly discussing his sex life, discussing the physical appearance of those around him and showing shirtless photos of himself to colleagues, according to an investigation by Washington County's human resources department.
Bracken McKey left his position with the county last year, as the county began an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace. McKey, one of the county's highest-paid employees at the time of his departure, made headlines earlier this year after he filed a lawsuit in an attempt to stop the county’s human resources department from releasing its report.
In its investigation, the county interviewed 18 witnesses. According to the investigation, witnesses said McKey, 53, would text shirtless photos of himself to coworkers and others. He reportedly made sexually charged remarks about men and women around the office, often discussing their weight or attire, and openly talked about his sex life. This, coworkers told investigators, made colleagues feel uncomfortable, especially because as chief deputy district attorney, McKey held a high-ranking leadership position in the DA's office.
According to the report, McKey reportedly sent or texted shirtless photos of himself to eight Washington County employees and one external community partner between May and September 2023.
One witness provided visual confirmation of the image and accompanying text messages, which depicted McKey without a shirt and with his pants “pulled low on his hips.”
Read the full story here.
The Portland Tribune and its parent company Pamplin Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners