Монтана мужийн захирагч Грег Жианфорте ажлын байран дахь ёс зүйгүй үйлдлийн улмаас Нийтийн үйлчилгээний комиссар Брэд Молнарыг цалингүйгээр нэг жил хүртэлх хугацаагаар түдгэлзүүлжээ.
Брэд Молнар нь ажлын газрын хамтран ажиллагсаддаа бэлгийн дарамт үзүүлсэн, ялгаварлан гадуурхсан, өшөө авалтын шинжтэй үйлдэл гаргасан гэх үндэслэлээр шалгагдсан байна. Захирагч Жианфортегийн мэдэгдсэнээр, комиссар нь эмэгтэй ажилтнууд руу хандаж зохисгүй үг хэллэг хэрэглэх, тэр дундаа “Topless Tuesdays” гэх мэт ёс бус санал гаргаж, хамтран ажиллагсдынхаа хувийн амьдрал, хүүхдүүдийнх нь аюулгүй байдалд заналхийлсэн шинжтэй үг хэлсэн нь тогтоогджээ.
Захирагч уг шийдвэрээ танилцуулахдаа Брэд Молнар нь олон нийтийн итгэлийг эвдэж, ёс зүйн ноцтой зөрчил гаргасан тул ийм арга хэмжээ авахаас өөр аргагүй байсан гэж үзжээ. Молнарын өмгөөлөгч “Topless Tuesday” гэх үг хэллэгийг хэрэглэснээ хүлээн зөвшөөрч, үүндээ харамсаж байгаагаа илэрхийлсэн ч бусад асуудлаарх дүгнэлтүүдийг эсэргүүцсэн байна.
Брэд Молнар өөрийн эсрэг авсан арга хэмжээг улс төрийн зорилготой гэж үзэж байгаа бөгөөд эрчим хүчний компаниудын эсрэг хатуу байр суурь баримталдаг тул ийнхүү шахалтад өртлөө хэмээн мэдэгджээ. Тэрээр уг шийдвэрийг шүүхэд давж заалдахаар төлөвлөж байгаа ба ирэх долоо хоногт шүүх хурал болох төлөвтэй байна.
Нийтийн үйлчилгээний комисс нь одоогоор 3.6 тэрбум ам.долларын өртөг бүхий эрчим хүчний нэгдэл болон цахилгааны үнийн шинэчлэл зэрэг мужийн чухал асуудлуудыг шийдвэрлэх шатанд байгаа юм. Захирагч Жианфорте одоогоор Брэд Молнарыг түр орлон гүйцэтгэгчийг томилох эсэх талаар мэдээлээгүй байна.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
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A Montana Republican utility commissioner has been suspended without pay after an investigation found he allegedly made repeated sexually inappropriate comments to coworkers, including suggesting “Topless Tuesdays” to a female employee and joking he could obtain photos of another employee’s children while they slept.
Gov. Greg Gianforte suspended Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar for at least one year, calling his conduct “unprecedented” and saying it had shattered the public’s trust in the state’s utility regulator.
Molnar, who has called his suspension politically motivated, previously referred to himself as a “redneck wearing a white shirt.”
The suspension follows an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation made by multiple Public Service Commission employees.
In a July 9 letter announcing the decision, Gianforte cited findings that Molnar made “numerous unwelcome sexual comments,” including telling one female employee she dreamed about a male coworker and referencing “Topless Tuesdays.”
The governor also pointed to an allegation that Molnar said he could “find out where (a PSC coworker) lived and, most disturbingly, get pictures of her kids sleeping in their beds.”
“In my view, Commissioner Molnar has repeatedly violated the sacred trust between him and the people of Montana and has shown no remorse for it,” Gianforte wrote.
Molnar’s attorney, Matthew Monforton, disputed some of the investigation’s findings but acknowledged his client made the “Topless Tuesday” remark.
“He did use the term ‘Topless Tuesday,’ and he has expressed regret for that,” Monforton said. “It was an off-color joke.”
The suspension takes effect immediately. Gianforte has not yet said whether he will appoint a temporary replacement.
Molnar has denied wrongdoing and argued the effort to remove him is politically motivated.
“The governor and the PSC imposed a kangaroo process designed to sideline Brad Molnar,” Monforton said, arguing the commissioner was targeted because he aggressively challenged utility companies and opposed policies favored by state leaders.
Molnar echoed those claims in a statement, saying he was subjected to “government by accusation” rather than due process.
“I have proudly built a career fighting for Montana consumers, not powerful special interests,” he said, adding that he plans to challenge the suspension in court.
The dispute comes as the Public Service Commission oversees several high-profile energy issues, including NorthWestern Energy’s proposed $3.6 billion merger and new electricity pricing that could shape future data center development in Montana.
The workplace investigation began last year after multiple employees accused Molnar of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation.
Three commissioners first asked Gianforte to suspend Molnar while the investigation was ongoing, but the governor declined, saying it was premature to do so before the inquiry concluded.
After reviewing the completed investigation, the commission again voted 3-2 in May to recommend his suspension. Gianforte acted on that request Thursday.
Molnar, one of the commission’s longest-serving members and a former state lawmaker, has repeatedly clashed with fellow commissioners and agency staff. He has filed multiple lawsuits arguing that disciplinary actions against him violated his constitutional rights, and is expected back in court next week to block the suspension.
