Windy Boy accused of sending harassing texts

HELENA (AP) - The Latest on harassment allegations within the Montana Legislature (all times local):

12:55 p.m.

Montana's former House speaker has identified a lawmaker from Box Elder as the man who sent harassing text messages to another legislator in 2017.

Austin Knudsen said today that Democratic Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy voluntarily resigned as chairman of the State-Tribal Relations Interim Committee last year before he could strip Windy Boy of the position as punishment.

A call from the Havre Daily News to Windy Boy at 12:55 p.m. went to voice mail, which the service said was full and could not accept more messages.

Knudsen, who is no longer in the Legislature, confirms that Windy Boy is the lawmaker who is subject of a March 2018 outside investigation that substantiated the harassment took place.

The investigative report recommended that legislative leaders take action over the unwanted texts sent between August and October 2017 that called a female lawmaker "gorgeous" and said, "You can step all over me and there are no boundaries."

Windy Boy did not respond to calls or a text message for comment.

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10:45 a.m.

An outside investigation into claims that one Montana legislator sexually harassed another concluded that the lawmaker sent unwelcome text messages and recommended that legislative leaders take action before the situation repeats itself.

Legislative Legal Services released a copy of the March 2018 investigative report by Great Falls attorney Jean Faure to The Associated Press that blacked out the names of the lawmakers and witnesses. The agency did not immediately say what, if any, action was taken against the offender, who apologized when confronted in January 2018.

The texts sent between August and October 2017 called the recipient "gorgeous," and "A wonderful sight for My Sore Eyes."

In one exchange the complainant was concerned about overstepping boundaries in resolving an issue. The offender responded: "Well. Just know, between you and me. You can step all over me and there is no boundaries."

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Havre Daily News staff contributed to this report