Out Congressional Candidate Apologizes for Inappropriate Behavior with Students
An out Massachusetts congressional candidate "apologized after three college groups accused him of using his position of power to pursue romantic or sexual relationships with students," CNN reports.
Alex Morse, a four-term mayor of Holyoke at 31 years old, is running against Rep. Richard Neal, the Democratic incumbent and chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. Morse, CNN writes, "has the collective support of leading progressive groups, including Justice Democrats, the Working Families Party, Indivisible and Sunrise Movement. Andrew Yang, the former Democratic presidential primary candidate, and Jamaal Bowman, who ousted another powerful incumbent, New York Rep. Eliot Engel in a June primary, have also endorsed Morse."
But on Friday the Daily Collegian, the Umass/Amherst newspaper, reported that "the College Democrats of Massachusetts disavowed their groups from the progressive hopeful, alleging that Morse had inappropriate sexual relations with college students before and during his congressional campaign and used 'his position of power for romantic or sexual gain.' "
The letter, provided to the Massachusetts Daily Collegian by a source inside one of the student organizations, continues: "Numerous incidents over the course of several years have shown that it is no longer appropriate to encourage interaction between College Democrats and Alex Morse."
The letter accuses Morse of three issues: First, matching with students on Tinder and Grindr, some as young as 18 years old. Second, using College Democrats events to meet college students and add them on Instagram, adding them to his 'Close Friends' story and DMing them, which have made young college students uncomfortable. And third, "Having sexual contact with college students, including at UMass Amherst, where he teaches, and the greater Five College Consortium."
In a statement to the Daily Collegian on Friday night, Morse "admitted to having "consensual adult relationships, including some with college students" and "apologized to anyone I have made feel uncomfortable.
"I want to be clear that every relationship I've had has been consensual. However, I also recognize that I have to be cognizant of my position of power," Morse said in the statement. "I am committed to meeting with any person or group, including the College Dems, to answer any questions and address any concerns."
In his statement, Morse writes: "Growing up gay and closeted in a small city like Holyoke, I struggled with accepting my sexuality, and in high school, I had a hard time finding other openly gay students."
Morse told the Daily Collegian: "As I've become more comfortable with myself and my sexuality, like any young, single, openly gay man, I have had consensual adult relationships, including some with college students."
He continued: "Navigating life as both a young gay man and an elected official can be difficult, but that doesn't excuse poor judgment."
Morse did not respond to CNN's request for further comment.
"The letter comes in the midst of Morse's battle for Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District against longtime seat-holder Rep. Richard Neal," adds the Daily Collegian. "The 31-year-old politician was elected as the first openly gay mayor and youngest mayor in the city's history nine years ago and has since branded himself as a grassroots politician working to rebuild a struggling city.
In a statement Saturday, CNN writes UMass Amherst called the allegations against Morse "serious and deeply concerning."
"The school also said it planned to launch 'an immediate review of the matter to determine whether the alleged actions during his time as a university lecturer were in violation of university policy or federal Title IX law.'"