David Jamison (file photo)
Governor Kim Reynolds’ administration is resisting fired Iowa Finance Authority director Dave Jamison’s application for unemployment benefits.
“He was terminated for sexual harassment and I think that disqualifies him for unemployment,” Reynolds told reporters late this morning.
Reynolds fired Jamison less than 24 hours after getting a letter from a woman in Jamison’s agency who gave detailed examples of Jamison’s alleged behavior. Reynolds did not speak with Jamison or launch an investigation before his firing, factors Jamison could cite when a state administrative law judge reviews his request for unemployment benefits.
“The judge will decide that,” Reynolds told reporters. “But he was terminated for sexual harassment. I think the evidence is pretty clear and I think that disqualifies him for unemployment.”
Iowa Public Radio first reported last Friday that officials in the Department of Administrative Services — the state’s human resources agency — had filed an objection to Jamison’s request for unemployment benefits. The hearing before an administrative law judge is scheduled next Tuesday, June 5th.
A female employee in the Iowa Finance Authority wrote to Reynolds in March, saying Jamison’s behavior made women feel unsafe at work.