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Elizabeth Esty (née Henderson; born August 25, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut's 5th congressional district from 2013 to 2019. A Democrat, she previously was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing the 103rd Assembly District, which consisted of Cheshire and parts of Hamden and Wallingford. She also served two terms on the Cheshire Town Council. The 5th congressional district spans central and northwest Connecticut, including Waterbury, Danbury, New Britain, Meriden, Torrington, Litchfield County, the Farmington Valley, Newtown, and Esty's hometown of Cheshire.

Key Information

Esty defeated two challengers in the August 14, 2012, Democratic primary to become the Democratic nominee in Connecticut's 5th congressional district, and on November 6, 2012, she defeated challenger Andrew Roraback, succeeding Chris Murphy, who was elected in the 2012 Senate Election. Esty defeated Mark Greenberg on November 4, 2014, in the state's most competitive district to win her first re-election.[1] On November 8, 2016, Esty defeated Sherman First Selectman Clay Cope by a margin of 58%–42% to win re-election a second time.[2]

In early 2018, Esty faced public criticism after news reports revealed that her former chief of staff had been accused of sexual harassment and threats of violence against staff but that she kept him on the payroll for another three months and wrote him a positive letter of reference.[3] After initially insisting she would continue to serve, Esty announced that she would not seek reelection.[4][5] She cited her failure to protect women on her staff from sexual harassment and threats of violence from her former chief of staff.[6] Jahana Hayes succeeded Esty in Congress.

Early life, education, and career

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Elizabeth Henderson was born in 1959 in Oak Park, Illinois.[7] Her father worked as an engineer in a construction company and the family moved numerous times during her childhood. She was raised in Minnesota and graduated from Winona Senior High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University in 1981 and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1985. She also studied International Relations at L'Institut d'études politiques in Paris for a year on a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship.[8] Esty volunteered for Planned Parenthood in college.[9]

Esty has been a law clerk for a federal judge, a Supreme Court lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP in Washington, D.C., and professor at American University. She is a member of the Cheshire Public Library Board, Legal Advisor to the Connecticut League of Women Voters Consensus Project, chair of the Board of Trustees for the First Congregational Church of Cheshire, lay member of the Committee on Ministry New Haven Association of the United Church of Christ, and a member of the Parent-Teacher Association.[10]

Connecticut House of Representatives

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Elections

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In 2008, she challenged Republican State Representative Al Adinolfi of Connecticut's 103rd Assembly District. She defeated him 51%-49%.[11] In 2010, Adinolfi challenged her in a rematch and defeated her 51%–49%.[12]

Tenure

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She opposed Governor Jodi Rell's proposal to eliminate the state's Office of Consumer Counsel. She cut her own pay by 10%. When aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney closed its Cheshire plant in 2009, Esty was among several politicians who fought to get workers new job placements or early retirement packages. She opposes the death penalty.[13]

Committee assignments

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  • Appropriations Committee
  • Energy and Technology Committee
  • Public Health Committee[14]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2012

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Main article: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut § District 5

In 2012, Democratic U.S. Congressman Chris Murphy of Connecticut's 5th congressional district decided to retire in order to run for the U.S. Senate. Esty decided to run. She was endorsed by EMILY's List.[15] She also won the newspaper endorsements from The New York Times, Hartford Courant and the Torrington Register-Citizen. She defeated Daniel Roberti and State House Speaker Chris Donovan in the primary.

In the November 6 general election, Esty defeated State Senator Andrew Roraback to become the district's next representative.[16] Esty won despite the opposition of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose PAC channeled over a million dollars to her opponent.[17]

Connecticut 5th Congressional District 2012[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Elizabeth Esty 142,201[19] 51.62%
Republican Andrew Roraback 133,256[20] 48.37%
Write-In John Pistone 12 0.00
Write-In Russ Jaeger 10 0.00
Total votes 284,757 100.0

2014

[edit]

In 2014, Esty defeated her Republican opponent, Mark Greenberg, earning 53.2% of the vote to Greenberg's 45.8%, despite Greenberg spending more than $1,600,000 of his own money on the campaign.[21]

U.S. House, Connecticut District 5 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Elizabeth Esty Incumbent 53.2% 113,564
Republican Mark Greenberg 45.8% 97,767
Independent John Pistone 0.9% 1,970
Total Votes 213,301
Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State

2016

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In 2016, Esty defeated Republican Clay Cope, the First Selectman of Sherman, Connecticut, earning 58% of the vote to Cope's 42%. Esty won 27 of the district's 41 cities and towns – including seven in which Donald Trump outperformed Hillary Clinton. Esty won Cope's hometown of Sherman.

Esty received the endorsements of the Hartford Courant,[22] Waterbury Republican-American,[23] Danbury News-Times,[24] Meriden Record-Journal,[25] New Haven Register,[26] Newtown Bee,[27] and Lakeville Journal.[28]

U.S. House, Connecticut District 5 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Elizabeth Esty Incumbent 58% 179,252
Republican Clay Cope 42% 129,801
N/A Write-in 0% 29
Total Votes 309,082
Source: Connecticut Secretary of State

2018

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Esty announced on April 2, 2018, that, contrary to earlier declarations, she would not seek re-election in the 2018 midterm election. She made this announcement some weeks after publication of accusations of sexual harassment against her chief of staff, Tony Baker. Esty had for a considerable time failed to examine these charges or exert any discipline but had instead approved a severance package for Baker that included $5,000 from public funds and, in addition, provided Baker with her personal recommendation for a position on the Sandy Hook Promise Council. Republicans and even Democrats, local newspapers, and bi-partisan citizens called for her resignation. She served out her term and left office on January 3, 2019.[29]

Tenure

[edit]

Esty introduced the Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act in February 2013 allow the town of Canton, Connecticut, to take over two lapsed licenses from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in order to refurbish two old local dams.[30] The dams would be used to produce hydroelectric power.[31]

In May 2013, Esty voted against repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. She then subsequently voted to delay the individual and business mandates in the law by one year.[32]

Esty co-authored[33] the STEM Education Act (H.R. 5031; 113th Congress) (H.R. 1020; 114th Congress). This bill strengthens science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education efforts and expands the definition of STEM to include computer science.[34] She said that "STEM education is critical to preparing our students for high-demand careers in engineering, manufacturing, and information technology."[35] According to Esty, she frequently hears from "manufactures and small business owners that it's increasingly difficult to find workers with the right skill sets to fill the jobs in demand." The House easily approved this bill with a vote of 412-8[36] and it was signed into law in October 2015.[37]

Esty also authored the Gold Star Fathers Act. This bill extends formal hiring preference for federal jobs to fathers of disabled and deceased veterans.[38] (Previously, only Gold Star mothers were eligible for hiring preference.) Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. The bill passed both chambers of Congress, and it was signed into law by Barack Obama on October 8, 2015.

Through her role on the Committee and Transportation and Infrastructure, Esty helped craft the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, which was passed by Congress on December 3, 2015, and signed into law by then-President Obama on December 4, 2015.[39] Esty sponsored an amendment to ease weight limits on the weight of trucks transporting dairy products, which reduces the number of trucks needed to transport milk. That amendment was included in the final legislation. Esty also sponsored amendments to increase Buy America requirements for buses and rail cars, establish new National Electric Vehicle Charging, Hydrogen, Propane, and Natural Gas Fueling Corridors, and protect pollinator habitat and forage on transportation rights-of-way.[40]

Esty sponsored multiple pieces of legislation designed to help cities and towns combat the opioid addiction epidemic. On March 3, 2016, she introduced the Prevent Drug Addiction Act, which calls for new consumer education campaigns on the risks of opioid addiction, strengthen training requirements for medical practitioners eligible to prescribe opioids or participate in opioid treatment programs, require opioid treatment programs to make acceptable arrangements for patients to receive needed medications on days when the program is closed for business to reduce the risk of relapse for patients in recovery, and create a new drug management program under the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan to prevent high-risk Medicare beneficiaries from becoming addicted to prescription drugs.[41] In May 2016, Esty served on the conference committee charged with crafting legislation to combat opioid addiction.[42] Portions of Esty's Prevent Drug Addiction Act were included in the bill, including the pain management program for Medicare Part D beneficiaries. The final legislation, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, was signed into law on July 22, 2016.[43]

Connecticut's Fifth District includes Newtown, Connecticut, which was the site of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. Esty serves as a vice-chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. She is an original cosponsor of the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act, which would require background checks on all commercial firearm sales.[44] On May 29, 2014, Esty and a bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced an amendment to increase funding to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The amendment passed the House by a vote of 260–145.[45] On June 22, 2016, Esty and several Democrats held a 26-hour sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives to protest Speaker of the House Paul Ryan's refusal to allow the House to vote on legislation related to gun violence prevention.[46]

According to Esty's office, Esty reclaimed more than $10,000,000 in government benefits – including overdue veterans' benefits, Social Security payments, Medicare payments, and delayed tax refunds – for residents of Connecticut's Fifth District through her first two terms in office.[47]

Esty was ranked as the 62nd most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 114th United States Congress (and the most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut) in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy that ranks members of the United States Congress by their degree of bipartisanship (by measuring the frequency each member's bills attract co-sponsors from the opposite party and each member's co-sponsorship of bills by members of the opposite party).[48]

Shortly after the 115th Congress convened in January 2017, Esty was named the Vice Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.[49] She was also elected to the Veterans' Affairs Committee, where she served as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.[50]

In partnership with Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock of Virginia, Esty introduced the Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act and the INSPIRE Women Act, a pair of bills designed to improve federal support for women in science, technology, math, and engineering fields. Both bills passed the House and Senate by unanimous consent and are pending signature by President Donald Trump.[51]

Committee assignments

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Caucus memberships

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Personal life

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Elizabeth Henderson married Daniel C. Esty in 1984. Several years later, their first child, Sarah, was born while they were working in Washington, D.C. Elizabeth became a stay-at-home mother. The family moved to Connecticut in 1994 when Dan Esty started the environmental law and policy program at Yale,[56] before accepting appointment as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection from Governor Dannel Malloy in March 2011.[57]

After leaving office, she became involved in political reform efforts, including joining nine other former members of Congress to co-author a 2021 opinion editorial advocating reforms of Congress.[58]

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Elizabeth Esty

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Elizabeth Esty (née Elizabeth Ann McMahon; born August 25, 1959) is an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. Representative for from 2013 to 2019 as a Democrat. A graduate of and , she practiced law, including clerking for a federal judge and working at , before taking a decade-long to raise her three children and entering local politics in , where she served on the town council from 2004 and in the state from 2009 to 2012. Esty's congressional tenure emphasized environmental policy, science and technology, and transportation , with committee assignments including the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Transportation and . She also served as vice chair of the Congressional Task Force on Prevention. However, her career ended prematurely amid a involving her handling of workplace abuse by her , Tony Baker, who allegedly sexually harassed and physically abused female staffer Anna Kain, culminating in Baker threatening to kill Kain with a in 2015; Esty retained Baker on payroll for months afterward, provided him a , and hired a to demand Kain's silence under threat of legal action. Esty publicly apologized, admitting she "failed to protect" her staff, but faced bipartisan calls to resign; she ultimately announced in April 2018 that she would not seek re-election, serving out her term until January 2019.

Early life and education

Upbringing and family influences

Elizabeth Esty was born Elizabeth Henderson on August 25, 1959, in , a suburb west of . She was the daughter of Thomas Henderson, a construction engineer, and Mitzi Henderson, who engaged in religious and charitable activities. The Henderson family relocated frequently across the during Esty's childhood, driven by her father's professional commitments to various construction projects. Thomas Henderson, a veteran from Midwestern roots, exemplified a tied to engineering and community involvement, including participation in church groups, Boy Scouts, , and . Her mother, a homemaker also of Midwestern origin, contributed to family life through involvement in church, parent-teacher associations, and the League of Women Voters. As the third of four children in a close-knit household descended from Midwestern immigrant families seeking improved prospects, Esty was raised with an emphasis on hard work, faith, education, and . These parental influences, rooted in and familial stability amid mobility, shaped her early exposure to values of perseverance and community responsibility, culminating in her graduation from Winona Senior High School in , in 1977.

Academic achievements and initial career steps

Esty earned an A.B. in government from in 1981. She subsequently studied as a graduate scholar at the Institut d'Études Politiques () in , , supported by a Scholarship. In 1985, she received a J.D. from . Following graduation, Esty clerked for U.S. District Judge Robert E. Keeton in the District of . She then joined the , office of LLP, where she worked as an appellate litigator, handling cases before federal courts including the U.S. . This early legal practice focused on high-stakes constitutional and matters, establishing her expertise in federal litigation prior to her return to .

Pre-political professional career

Following her graduation from Yale Law School with a J.D. in 1985, Esty served as a for Robert E. Keeton of the for the District of Massachusetts in . This clerkship provided early exposure to federal judicial proceedings in a district known for handling complex civil and criminal matters. Subsequently, Esty joined , a prominent firm, in its Washington, D.C., office, where she practiced appellate law with a focus on high-stakes litigation, including cases before the U.S. . During this period, her work included defending abortion rights in private firm cases, aligning with her prior volunteer experience supporting . Esty's appellate practice at Sidley emphasized constitutional and regulatory issues, leveraging the firm's reputation for Supreme Court advocacy. Esty departed private legal practice in 1990 to pursue policy initiatives, marking the end of her active courtroom and appellate work. Her tenure at Sidley, spanning the late , established her expertise in federal appeals prior to this transition.

Academic roles at

Elizabeth Esty held the position of Senior Research Scholar in Law at from 1994 to 2009. In this capacity, she focused on and Medicare policy analysis. Her work involved research contributions aligned with the school's legal scholarship, though specific publications or projects from this period are not prominently detailed in official records. Esty balanced this academic role with her concurrent service as a state representative in starting in 2008, reflecting a transition toward greater political involvement.

Entry into politics

Local government service in Cheshire

Elizabeth Esty was elected to the Cheshire Town Council in November 2004, marking the start of her elected political career. She served two terms as a Democratic council member from 2005 to 2008 in the Republican-leaning town of . Her tenure on the council ended upon her successful campaign for the in 2008. During this period, Esty engaged in local governance matters, though detailed records of specific initiatives or votes from her council service remain limited in available public sources.

Connecticut House of Representatives tenure

Elizabeth Esty was elected to the on November 4, 2008, defeating Republican incumbent Al Adinolfi to represent the 103rd Assembly District, comprising and parts of Wallingford and Hamden. Her term began on January 7, 2009, and ended on January 5, 2011, following a single two-year session amid a Republican wave in the 2010 midterm elections. As a Democratic member, Esty served on the Appropriations Committee, Energy and Technology Committee, and Public Safety and Security Committee, focusing on fiscal oversight, , and safety policy. She co-sponsored bills addressing public safety and economic issues, including House Bill 5107 on municipal contracting reforms and House Bill 5247 related to energy incentives. Esty also introduced House Bill 6130 in , seeking to prohibit homeowner associations or covenants from banning systems to promote renewable adoption. Additionally, she co-sponsored House Bill 5635, which proposed enhancements to protections and reporting requirements. In the November 2, 2010, for re-election to the 103rd , Esty received 4,491 votes (48.5%) but lost to Adinolfi, who garnered 4,757 votes (51.5%), reflecting broader Republican gains in Connecticut's state legislative contests that year. The defeat was attributed in part to Adinolfi's support for the death penalty, contrasting Esty's opposition amid voter priorities on crime policy.

U.S. House of Representatives

Path to candidacy and 2012 election

Following her defeat in the 2010 Connecticut House of Representatives election, where she lost re-election by a narrow margin to Republican Al Adinolfi after unseating him in , Esty shifted focus to higher office. On April 11, 2011, she formally declared her candidacy for the open U.S. House seat in , vacated by incumbent Democrat Chris Murphy's run for U.S. Senate. Esty's campaign emphasized her experience in , legal background, and moderate Democratic positions, positioning her as a pragmatic alternative in a competitive primary field. She faced House Speaker Christopher , who held strong labor support but encountered setbacks from a scandal involving associates, and Dan Roberti. On August 14, 2012, Esty secured the Democratic nomination with 42.9% of the vote, defeating (37.5%) and Roberti (19.6%). In the general election, Esty challenged Republican state Roraback, a long-serving known for and environmental advocacy. The race, in a district rated competitive by analysts due to its mix of suburban and rural areas, focused on economic recovery, , and fiscal policy amid national partisan divides. On November 6, 2012, Esty prevailed with 51.0% (146,410 votes) to Roraback's 48.9% (140,352 votes), a margin of about 6,000 votes, bolstered by strong urban turnout in cities like Waterbury and . This victory marked a Democratic hold on the district, despite Republican gains elsewhere in that year.

Re-elections in 2014, 2016, and 2018 primary challenges

In the 2014 general election for , Esty defeated Republican Mark Greenberg, securing 53 percent of the vote (107,936 votes) to Greenberg's 47 percent (95,955 votes). Esty faced no Democratic primary opponent, advancing unopposed after the party's internal selection process. The race was considered competitive in a midterm year unfavorable to Democrats nationally, but Esty's incumbency and focus on local issues like and contributed to her victory margin. Esty won re-election in the 2016 general election against Republican Clay Cope, receiving 58 percent of the vote (179,252 votes) to Cope's 42 percent (129,801 votes). As in , she encountered no primary challenge within the Democratic party. The election occurred amid a national Democratic wave in House races, bolstering her performance in the district, which included suburban areas around and Waterbury. Esty announced on May 3, 2018, that she would not seek re-election, citing her handling of allegations against a former as a factor that eroded her ability to lead effectively. This decision preempted any potential Democratic , as the filing deadline had passed and no opponents had formally entered against her prior to the announcement. The vacancy triggered an open primary on August 14, 2018, where defeated David Glassman to become the Democratic nominee, reflecting heightened competition for the seat amid national midterm dynamics and Esty's abrupt exit.

Committee assignments and caucus involvement

During her tenure in the U.S. from 2013 to 2019, Elizabeth Esty served on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology across the 113th through 115th Congresses (2013–2019), where she focused on issues including STEM education and environmental research. She also held assignments on the Committee on Transportation and during the same period, contributing to legislation on infrastructure funding, rail safety, and . In the 115th Congress (2017–2019), Esty joined the Committee on , addressing topics such as services and benefits reform for veterans. Esty participated in several bipartisan and Democratic caucuses, reflecting her moderate positions on policy. She was a member of the , co-chairing its Affordable and Accessible Healthcare Task Force in 2017 to promote market-based health reforms. As part of the , she co-led efforts on proposals in 2018 and supported bills stabilizing the individual health insurance market. In January 2018, Esty joined the bipartisan to advance policies reducing carbon emissions through economic incentives. Early in her congressional service, Esty served as one of 12 vice chairs on the House Democratic Caucus's Congressional Prevention Task Force, appointed in January 2013 following the , with a focus on background checks and interventions.

Policy positions and legislative voting record

Esty maintained a legislative profile consistent with mainstream Democratic priorities during her tenure in the U.S. from 2013 to 2019, voting with her party 92.8 percent of the time as of June 2013, which placed her among the more partisan Democrats in the . Her GovTrack Ideology Score positioned her as a moderate liberal, with high attendance rates, missing only 0.4 percent of votes (5 of 1,210) in the 115th . She received strong endorsements from progressive groups, including a 100 percent rating from on reproductive rights votes and favorable scores from labor organizations like the for supporting worker protections. On environmental policy, Esty sponsored multiple bills emphasizing cleanup, , and resilience. In 2015, she introduced H.R. 4463, the Brownfields Redevelopment Reauthorization Act, to extend tax credits for remediating contaminated sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, aiming to facilitate urban redevelopment and job creation. Earlier, in February 2013, she cosponsored the Collinsville Promotion Act to enable the town of , to repurpose lapsed hydroelectric licenses for power generation. She also backed designating segments of the Farmington River as wild and scenic, introduced tax incentives for brownfield remediation in 2014 via H.R. 4542, and in 2018 cosponsored legislation to incentivize durable roadway materials using recycled content, targeting federal highway funding. In 2014, she supported the Act (H.R. 4522) to establish federal financing for clean energy projects. These efforts reflected her service on the House , , and Technology Committee, where she advocated for research funding amid opposition to Trump administration budget cuts. Regarding gun violence prevention, Esty, representing a district including Newtown following the 2012 shooting, consistently supported stricter controls. She opposed H.J. Res. 40 in February 2017, which overturned an Obama-era rule barring some mentally ill individuals from purchases, voting against the 235-174 measure. In December 2017, she voted against the Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38), arguing it would undermine state laws and enable criminals to carry hidden weapons across state lines. Esty advocated for universal background checks, joining efforts in to advance related legislation through the Judiciary Committee, and in October 2015 pushed for floor votes on bipartisan measures. She introduced bills to ban magazines holding over 10 rounds and criticized congressional inaction post-. In healthcare and reproductive rights, Esty aligned with Democratic efforts to preserve and expand access. She earned a 100 percent lifetime rating from for votes defending access and opposed restrictions like defunding providers. During the 115th , she voted against American Act repeal attempts, including provisions in March 2017 to alter and community health funding. On civil rights, she supported the Fair Pay Act for equal pay enforcement, full marriage equality, and reauthorization of the .
Key VotesBill/ResolutionEsty's VoteDateOutcome
Gun Background Checks (Mental Health Rule)H.J. Res. 40NoFeb. 2, 2017Passed 235-174
Concealed Carry ReciprocityH.R. 38NoDec. 6, 2017Passed 231-192
Brownfields Tax IncentivesH.R. 4463 (Sponsor)N/A (Sponsored)Oct. 2015 IntroReferred to Committees
AHCA Medicaid ChangesH.R. 1628 AmendmentsNoMar. 24, 2017Included in Debate

Staff abuse scandal and mishandling allegations

In spring 2016, Elizabeth Esty's chief of staff, Tony Baker, allegedly physically assaulted junior staffer Anna Kain by punching her in the face and threatened to kill her with a knife during an argument in Esty's , office. Kain, who had worked with Baker since around 2013, subsequently obtained a temporary against him, which was confirmed by a mutual acquaintance. Esty became aware of the allegations in spring 2016 but retained on her staff for three additional months following the disclosure of the . Upon his eventual dismissal, she provided Baker with $5,000 in severance pay—later personally reimbursed to the —and authored a positive reference letter recommending him for future employment, reportedly with the intent to facilitate his exit from the Washington area. Esty publicly apologized on March 29, 2018, stating she was "horrified and angry" upon learning of the incident and admitting, "I failed to protect her," referring to Kain, while disputing none of the abuse claims. In response, she implemented office changes including a new , revised employment policies, and mandatory training, and requested a review by the House Ethics Committee of her office's handling procedures. The revelations, reported by outlets including and The Hartford Courant in late March 2018, prompted bipartisan criticism for Esty's delayed action and protective measures toward , contributing directly to her decision not to seek re-election later that year. Esty described her response as a "mishandling" in her April 2, 2018, announcement, emphasizing lessons learned on staff protection amid the broader congressional reckoning with .

Resignation from Congress

Timeline of events leading to decision

In May 2016, Esty learned of a threatening voicemail left by her chief of staff, Tony Baker, for former staffer Anna Kain, prompting an internal confrontation and subsequent investigation. The investigation, initiated in July 2016, confirmed a pattern of verbal and physical abuse by Baker toward Kain dating back to 2014, leading to Baker's termination on August 12, 2016, along with a $5,000 severance payment and a job recommendation from Esty. On March 29, 2018, Esty publicly apologized for mishandling the situation and failing to protect her staff, following reports in outlets including the Connecticut Mirror and Washington Post detailing the 2016 events and her office's response. March 30, 2018, saw Republican leaders, including House Oversight Committee Chairman , demand Esty's resignation over her retention of Baker for three months post-threat and provision of benefits upon dismissal. On March 31, 2018, prominent Democrats, including Senate President Martin Looney, called for Esty to resign, citing her inadequate response to workplace abuse allegations amid the broader . April 2, 2018: Facing mounting pressure, Esty announced she would not seek re-election in 2018, requested an expedited ethics review by the House Office of Congressional Ethics, and committed to serving out her term while implementing staff protections.

Public and political reactions

Following revelations of her mishandling of abuse allegations against former Tony Baker, Elizabeth Esty faced widespread calls for resignation from fellow Democrats. President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney stated, “If the facts… are as they are alleged… then Congresswoman Esty should and resign,” citing her delayed response to reports of and threats. State Sen. Mae Flexer echoed this, arguing, “Her failure to here hurt us all… It’s time for Rep. Esty to step aside,” emphasizing the impact on workplace safety. Other Democrats, including former Secretary of State , Sens. Paul Doyle and Cathy Osten, and Reps. Diana Urban and Kelly Julien-Scopino, similarly demanded she step down, with Bysiewicz noting that waiting three months to act “jeopardized the safety of her staff.” U.S. Sen. (D-CT) expressed being “deeply disappointed” in Esty's handling, asserting, “There should be clearly, unquestionably no tolerance for or in the workplace,” while deferring the resignation decision to her constituents. Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D-CT) acknowledged the mishandling and stressed the need to protect victims of . Republicans, through the , labeled the episode a “disturbing Washington cover-up” and called for her immediate . Esty's April 2, 2018, announcement that she would not seek re-election was widely viewed as yielding to this bipartisan pressure, though she did not resign mid-term and continued serving until January 2019. The NRCC welcomed the development as an opportunity to contest the competitive , with spokesman Matt Gorman describing it as a “sad day” for the district. Current and former staffers expressed dismay at her initial response, with some indicating it eroded trust in office leadership. Public sentiment, as reflected in local media polls and voter interviews, mirrored the criticism, focusing on accountability amid the #MeToo movement's emphasis on swift action against workplace misconduct.

Post-congressional activities

Leadership at Woodwell Climate Research Center

Following her resignation from the U.S. House of Representatives on January 3, 2019, Elizabeth Esty did not take on a leadership role at Woodwell Climate Research Center, despite her prior focus on environmental policy during her congressional tenure. No public records or announcements from the organization indicate her involvement in executive, board, or advisory capacities there as of 2025. Instead, Esty expressed intentions to step back from politics to write a book reflecting on her time in Congress, emphasizing lessons from her service amid personal and professional challenges. Her post-congressional activities have remained largely private, with limited documented engagements in formal climate research leadership.

Other professional engagements

Esty has maintained involvement in discussions through and panel participation. In October 2019, she contributed to the Conference on the Organizational Climate of Congress, organized by the University of Maryland's Department of Psychology, addressing leadership, team processes, and organizational dynamics in legislative settings. In February 2024, Esty joined former Representative for a discussion on global challenges and congressional polarization at the Harvard Institute of Politics' John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. She continued such engagements in November 2024, participating in a Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy event focused on pathways, hosted in collaboration with the Environmental Policy and Law Working Group.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Elizabeth Esty married Daniel C. Esty, a fellow student and later a specializing in and policy, in October 1984. The couple has three children: Sarah, Thomas, and Jonathan. Prior to entering politics, Esty served as a stay-at-home mother while residing in , where the family had lived for over a decade by 2011.

Later personal developments

Following her departure from Congress on January 3, 2019, Esty cited priorities as a key factor in her decision not to seek further office, stating in her April 2, , announcement that "it is in the best interest of my constituents and my to end my time in at the end of this term." This reflected a personal recalibration amid the preceding staff misconduct scandal, allowing greater focus on private life after over two decades in elected roles. No major public disclosures of subsequent personal milestones, such as events or changes, have been reported in reputable outlets as of 2025. Esty, born August 25, 1959, continues to maintain a profile centered on , with her to Daniel C. Esty dating to 1984 and three adult children from the union.

References

  1. https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/15032387067
  2. https://www.congress.gov/member/elizabeth-esty/E000293
  3. https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/elizabeth-esty/
  4. https://www.msnbc.com/know-your-value/how-rep-elizabeth-esty-went-career-break-congress-n843521
  5. https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/72826/elizabeth-esty
  6. https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/30/politics/elizabeth-esty-staffer-abuse
  7. https://www.vox.com/2018/4/4/17192678/elizabeth-esty-tony-baker-democrat-connecticut
  8. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/30/598338648/-i-failed-to-protect-her-congresswoman-apologizes-for-alleged-abuse-within-offic
  9. https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/02/politics/elizabeth-esty-resign
  10. https://ctmirror.org/2018/04/02/esty-asks-ethics-panel-review-firing-ex-aide/
  11. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/02/congresswoman-elizabeth-esty-wont-seek-reelection-abuse-case
  12. https://teapartycheer.com/bios/new-england/connecticut/elizabeth-esty-ct-bio/
  13. https://sparks.cern/esty-elizabeth
  14. https://ballotpedia.org/Elizabeth_Esty
  15. https://www.sidley.com/en/us/sidley-pages/conversations/a-conversation-with-elizabeth-esty/
  16. https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/area/center/liman/document/14_bios.pdf
  17. https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/198830/Elizabeth_Henderson_Esty.html
  18. https://ctmirror.org/2012/10/10/elizabeth-esty-passionate-moderate/
  19. https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/liman_colloquium_program-final1.pdf
  20. https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Cheshire-s-Elizabeth-Esty-becomes-first-Democrat-11581297.php
  21. https://cslib.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p128501coll2/id/386396/download
  22. https://www.c-span.org/person/?1020906=ElizabethEsty
  23. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/cbs/H/pdf/HB-5107.pdf
  24. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/cbs/H/pdf/HB-5247.pdf
  25. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/cbs/H/pdf/HB-6130.pdf
  26. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/cbs/H/pdf/HB-5635.pdf
  27. https://ballotpedia.org/Connecticut_House_of_Representatives_elections%2C_2010
  28. https://www.newtownbee.com/08172012/aurelia-retains-gop-registrar-seat-local-voters-endorse-mcmahon-esty-murp/
  29. https://ctmirror.org/2011/04/11/elizabeth-esty-declares-congress/
  30. https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Esty-Roraback-took-different-paths-to-Election-4007169.php
  31. https://ctmirror.org/2012/08/14/esty-roraback-win-5th-district-primaries/
  32. https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/politics/elizabeth-esty-wins-democratic-5th-district-race/1911230/
  33. https://ctmirror.org/2012/10/09/roraback-esty-race-study-different-strategies/
  34. https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Elizabeth-Esty-defeats-Andrew-Roraback-in-5th-11482580.php
  35. https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2012/11/07/cities_give_esty_edge_over_roraback_in_5th_district/
  36. https://ctmirror.org/2012/11/06/esty-beats-roraback-keeping-congressional-delegation-dems/
  37. https://www.cbia.com/resources/issues-policies/u-s-house-representatives-2014-results/
  38. https://ctmirror.org/2014/11/04/esty-beats-greenberg-in-5th-district/
  39. https://www.usatoday.com/elections/results/race/2016-11-08-house-CT-7015/
  40. https://electionhistory.ct.gov/eng/contests/view/4649
  41. https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/connecticut-house-district-5-esty-cope
  42. https://ctmirror.org/2018/05/03/suddenly-democrats-lining-estys-seat/
  43. https://newdemocratcoalition.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-democrat-coalition-launches-policy-task-forces
  44. https://www.nacwa.org/news-publications/news-detail/2018/01/12/nacwa-statement-supporting-house-problem-solvers-caucus-infrastructure-proposal
  45. https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/bipartisan-group-of-problem-solvers-caucus-members-introduce-comprehensive-health-care-bill-to-stabilize-the-individual-marketplace
  46. https://thehill.com/homenews/house/368143-four-lawmakers-join-house-climate-solutions-caucus/
  47. https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/news-articles/lake-county-news-thompson-announces-vice-chairs-for-gun-violence-prevention
  48. https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/esty-sworn-in-to-serve-5th-district/2020640/
  49. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/elizabeth_esty/412524/report-card/2018
  50. https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/72826/elizabeth-esty
  51. https://aflcio.org/scorecard/legislators/elizabeth-esty
  52. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4463
  53. https://www.lcv.org/media-center/lcv-action-fund-endorses-three-environmental-champions-running-for-re-election-in-connecticut/
  54. https://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/knowledge-hub/news/brownfields-tax-incentive-reauthorization-introduced/
  55. https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2018/08/09/20180810_dc_news_junkie_esty_bill_could_pave_way_for_longer-lasting/
  56. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/green-bank-act-introduced-by-clean-energy-champions-van-hollen-and-murphy
  57. https://www.wamc.org/new-england-news/2017-04-18/esty-environmental-challenges-for-farmington-river-valley-under-trump
  58. https://www.npr.org/2017/02/02/513126985/house-votes-to-overturn-obama-rule-restricting-gun-sales-to-mentally-ill
  59. https://www.wshu.org/news/2017-03-02/u-s-house-acts-swiftly-to-reverse-gun-control-rules
  60. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42256718
  61. https://hudson.house.gov/media/in-the-news/house-votes-to-ease-laws-on-carrying-guns
  62. https://www.myjournalcourier.com/politics/article/Gun-safety-vote-brings-Hayes-and-Esty-together-13643599.php
  63. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMh4IlN-LDw
  64. https://ctmirror.org/2017/10/12/ct-lawmakers-keep-introducing-gun-control-bills-but-face-uphill-climb/
  65. https://ctmirror.org/2016/10/13/esty-and-cope-disagree-if-amiably-on-gun-control-and-climate-change/
  66. https://votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/72826/elizabeth-esty/
  67. https://www.congress.gov/115/crec/2017/03/24/CREC-2017-03-24-pt1-PgH2393.pdf
  68. https://www.ontheissues.org/House/Elizabeth_Esty_Civil_Rights.htm
  69. https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/conn-congresswoman-kept-aide-on-staff-3-months-after-she-learned-of-threat-allegation/2018/03/29/5af5b11c-2311-11e8-94da-ebf9d112159c_story.html
  70. https://ctmirror.org/2018/03/29/esty-apologizes-failing-protect-staffers-abuse/
  71. https://ctmirror.org/2018/04/10/esty-gave-abusive-staffer-good-reference-get-washington/
  72. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/02/us/politics/elizabeth-esty-wont-run-reelection.html
  73. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/failed-protect-staffer-harassment-conn-congresswoman/story?id=54123198
  74. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/02/rep-esty-wont-run-for-reelection-after-mishandling-harassment-allegations-495696
  75. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/02/598973171/after-alleged-abuse-one-aide-by-another-rep-elizabeth-esty-wont-seek-re-election
  76. https://www.courant.com/2018/04/02/rep-elizabeth-esty-not-running-for-re-election-after-mishandling-abuse-allegations/
  77. https://www.wsj.com/articles/rep-elizabeth-esty-wont-seek-re-election-over-harassment-scandal-1522710975
  78. https://www.npr.org/2018/04/03/599077740/after-staffer-scandal-rep-etsy-wont-seek-re-election
  79. https://ctmirror.org/2018/03/30/esty-writes-colleagues-resists-gop-demands-quit/
  80. https://ctmirror.org/2018/03/31/looney-state-dems-demand-esty-resign/
  81. https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/02/politics/elizabeth-esty-expedited-ethics-review
  82. https://rollcall.com/2018/03/30/blumenthal-deeply-disappointed-in-how-esty-handled-abuse-allegations/
  83. https://thehill.com/homenews/house/381017-gop-calls-for-dem-lawmakers-resignation-over-harassment-cover-up/
  84. https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Esty-staffers-dismayed-by-her-response-to-abuse-12802787.php
  85. https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/connecticut-leaders-react-to-estys-decision-not-to-seek-re-election/37234/
  86. https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/video/on-air/as-seen-on/voters-react-to-esty_s-decision-not-to-seek-re-election_hartford/37287/
  87. https://ctmirror.org/2018/12/07/esty-prepares-leave-congress-politics/
  88. https://www.woodwellclimate.org/people/leadership/
  89. https://iop.harvard.edu/events/global-challenges-and-divided-congress
  90. https://envirocenter.yale.edu/recent-activities
  91. https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Esty-s-marriage-poses-ethical-challenges-4548807.php
  92. https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/Wife-of-State-Agency-Formally-Enters-Fifth-16886100.php
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