Baltimore County Delegate Jay Jalisi got a public reprimand by his peers Wednesday on the House floor.
It comes after an investigation by the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics found Jalisi engaged in an ongoing pattern of bullying and abusive workplace behavior.
He says they are putting style over substance. That he is a tough boss and his accusers are engaging in tone policing.
The Maryland House of Delegates voted 136 to 0 to publicly reprimand Jalisi.
It’s in response to an investigation by the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics into allegations covering a five-year period, accusing Jalisi of engaging in a pattern of bullying and abusive workplace behavior. Jalisi was not there for the reprimand.
“I am very disappointed,” said Jalisi. “In my five years, I think this is the first time that somebody has been reprimanded for basically being a tough boss.”
“People didn’t like my tone, so I feel like it’s more like tone policing,” Jalisi said.
The report alleges Jalisi forced his staff to work overtime without extra pay and refused to let a worker go home early on a liberal leave snow day.
When 11 News asked about an allegation that he had someone stand in the middle of the office and repeat “I am incompetent,” Jalisi responded, “That’s not true. That is absolutely not true.”
The ethics committee interviewed 38 witnesses and had 18 sworn affidavits. Each House member got a copy of the report. It shows Jalisi had several opportunities to get counseling.
“The speaker is saying that he has counseled me on multiple occasions. He has never done so,” Jalisi said.
The report also shows, the speaker advised Jalisi to undergo an anger management program and until he does, the Maryland General Assembly will not pay for his staff.
“I understand that, I understand but it’s still unfolding for me. The issue is not 12 hours of work in a civility program, which you call anger management. The main issue is how to get people who have gone jobless now because of this action to get paid again,” Jalisi said.
Jalisi calls accusations he abused hotel staff a gross exaggeration. He says he questioned the hotel policy change on food vouchers.
“I think the apology should come for the mistakes , If I made them,” Jalisi said.
Jalisi has staffers working for him without pay. He says moving forward he will pray, meditate and work on behalf of his constituents.
Delegate Sandy Rosenberg reading reprimand of Delegate Jay Jalisi pic.twitter.com/QhmeR9kQYV
— David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) March 27, 2019
