Ex-assistant sues House, accusing Daryl Campbell of sexual harassment

Former assistant of the Rep. Daryl Campbell is suing the House of Representatives, alleging she was fired after complaining of repeated sexual harassment by the Fort Lauderdale Democrat.

Ex-assistant Athena Guis submitted by a claim vs. Chamber on Sept. 26 in Broward County. The lawsuit, which has since moved to Leon County, seeks back pay, $50,001 in compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees to remedy what the lawsuit calls sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation.

Naomi Feinstein with Miami New Times first reported the lawsuit.

It alleges that Campbell, 38, repeatedly insisted on sharing rooms with Guise, 28, on out-of-town trips, using the fact that she had little money to afford other options.

During those trips, the lawsuit says, Campbell was overly controlling, acting “like a jealous boyfriend” and telling her they “need to be together on dates” because “it’s like you’re my wife.”

This included Gus’s December 2022 trip to Las Vegas, where she was nominated for an award National Black Caucus Legislative Staff Steering Committee event. The lawsuit alleges that Campbell surprised Guice by saying he was also going to the event and turned what was originally supposed to be an overnight trip into three nights where they shared an Airbnb with separate bedrooms.

After she was seen kissing another man at an after-hours party Campbell insisted Gies attend after landing in Las Vegas, the complaint said Campbell forbade Gies from drinking on business trips. He later lifted that restriction after they argued about it, the suit said, admitting he would not make the same rule for a male assistant.

On other trips when they shared an apartment, Gice said Campbell asked her to cook for him when they weren’t eating dinner, tried to buy her alcoholic drinks and acted offended when she suggested a different sleeping pattern.

Gice said she told Campbell the things made her uncomfortable. The lawsuit says she told other House aides and a Democratic representative in Hollywood. Marie Woodson about her concerns. Woodson said in the complaint that Campbell was behaving inappropriately and compared his actions to those of a “jealous boyfriend.”

The lawsuit says Gice told a representative of the West Palm Beach Democratic Party. Gervonte Edmonds of Campbell’s behavior and that Edmonds said, “These things happen all the time in this space.”

Guis said she also spoke with a Pompano Beach Democratic aide. Patricia Williamswho passed the information on to the deputy.

In both cases, the lawsuit says, the information got back to Campbell, who threatened Guice with firing if she spoke to others about “office business.” After Guice spoke with Williams’ staff, the lawsuit says, Campbell stood in front of her and asked why she was “acting like he was trying to have sex with her.”

The lawsuit says Campbell told Gice that “he did not find her physically attractive” and that he “thought they were more confident sleeping in the same room.” Gice said she told Campbell she would “never go down that road with my supervisor or boss.”

Florida Politics has reached out to Woodson, Williams and Edmonds for comment. Woodson declined to comment because “the matter is under investigation.”

Williams and Edmonds denied knowledge of the issue.

“I don’t remember anything like that, and I’m surprised to hear about these allegations,” Williams said, declining to comment further.

Edmonds said, “I haven’t heard anything about the case.” He said he would be ready to comment on the subject as soon as he had more information.

Guice said she was fired in November 2023 on the grounds that she shared “confidential information” about legislation Campbell planned to introduce for the 2024 session. its LinkedIn page says that since January she worked as a senior coordinator of programs for Access to reproductive health project. She took part in a long interview with Miami shoutout in March, where she mentioned working as a domestic helper but did not name her employer.

Florida Politics reached out to Campbell, who won re-election in District 99 in August after defeating a lone, underfunded primary contender — but had not received a response by press time.

Florida Politics also reached out to the House Speaker for comment Daniel Perez Office and will update this report when received.

The lawsuit, which can be viewed below, names only Dom as a defendant.

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