Das changes his thread in sizing up Koh’s role in suit

Democratic 3rd District Congressional candidate Abhjit “Beej” Das yesterday sharply questioned rival Daniel A. Koh’s role in a controversial sexual harassment lawsuit despite calling for an end to dirty politics in the final days of the now-roiling primary.

“Someone should be asking, ‘What was your role, why are you the last person involved in this and why don’t you share culpability?’ ” Das said.

Koh, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s former chief of staff, is named in a Suffolk Superior Court lawsuit that accuses former Health and Human Services chief Felix G. Arroyo of sexual harassment.

Das had previously criticized fellow congressional candidate Barbara L’Italien after she suggested Koh failed to protect the victim on Boston Herald Radio earlier this week. Das claimed L’Italien privately asked him last week to publicly discuss the lawsuit in an effort to raise the negative story but keep her own distance from it. L’Italien’s campaign yesterday declined to comment on Das’ claims.

But Das said yesterday that the discrimination lawsuit raises serious questions.

“This happened a month before he announced his candidacy. I’m curious why no one had asked him about this before,” said Das.

Former city employee Hilani Morales accused Arroyo of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed last November, and she also names Koh and Walsh. Koh had “summoned Ms. Morales into his office,” last July to discuss the harassment, the lawsuit alleges, and he was the last city official to speak with her on the matter before she was assigned to another job.

“Ms. Morales was stunned. She had not requested a transfer,” wrote Morales’ lawyers. “In fact, she specifically expressed her desire to remain with HHS. Ms. Morales, moreover, correctly viewed this transfer as a humiliating demotion.”

Arroyo was suspended after Morales’ complaint and fired last August after an investigation.

Koh’s campaign reissued a statement saying the Walsh administration took the harassment claims “very seriously.” Koh campaign manager Rachel Goldberg blasted both L’Italien and Das for making “false personal attacks.”

Voters in the 3rd District will chose a Democratic nominee Tuesday.