The Katie Hobbs dispute erupted after she was accused of racially discriminating against her employees. Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs began this year’s race for governor as the overwhelming favorite among Democrats. Hobbs is best known in the United States for opposing former President Donald Trump’s allegations of election fraud. Her action in firing a team member seven years ago, on the other hand, threatens her campaign in a purple state that Democrats hope will turn blue in 2018.
When Katies Hobbs was the Democratic leader of the state Senate in 2015, she had trouble firing the lone black political staff member. Hobbs’ stance and subsequent statements about it have fueled debate among black leaders in the state, putting her support from a critical constituency at risk as she faces a tough election year in the form of President Joe Biden winning by less than 11,000 votes.
According to five black leaders who spoke to CNN, the lawsuit had particular impact in Arizona because of the state’s history of discrimination against voters of color, exacerbated by efforts by Trump and his supporters to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. This is true despite the historical exclusion of blacks from the workforce.
Katie Hobbs Controversy: Was She Involved in Racial Discrimination?
Katie Hobbs faced criticism during the Democratic campaign for governor for firing an African-American policy adviser in 2015. The attacks only got worse during the general election campaign, especially on social media. Hobbs’ opponents, on the other hand, propagated false information about “convictions,” felony charges, and millions of dollars in government payouts. Hobbs was the Democratic minority leader in the Texas Senate in early 2015. She was elected secretary of state in 2018.
Talonya Adams, an attorney, was the Democratic Party’s only African-American policy adviser on staff and in the Capitol. Adams was fired in February 2015, reportedly because she complained about being paid less than her white colleagues.
Why was Katie Hobb charged?
Hobbs was found not guilty on all counts. No criminal charges have been filed. While serving as her attorney in federal court, Adams would bring and win two civil suits alleging gender and racial discrimination. The lawsuit was filed against the Arizona State Senate. Hobbs has not been named as a defendant. However, Hobbs, her chief of staff and the leader of the Senate Republicans’ team in charge of Senate operations testified.
During the second trial, Hobbs testified that she had “lost confidence” in Adams, in part because Adams had taken an emergency leave to care for his child out of state. Many of Hobbs’ critics claim that taxpayers have paid millions of dollars because of the court ruling. Another jury last year found Adams a victim of racial and gender discrimination and retaliation and awarded her $2.75 million in damages. However, federal law limits the amount of damages to $30,000 per incident. After accounting for past wages and delayed benefits, the court awarded Adams $353,000 in damages.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education