Omphroy claims she was ‘bullied’ by Smith
South Florida House member accuses Orlando lawmaker
A Broward County Democratic state House member said she was “bullied, threatened and verbally assaulted” by a Democratic state lawmaker from Orlando at a party meeting Saturday.
Rep. Anika Omphroy wrote a letter to GOP House Speaker Jose Oliva on Monday calling for an ethics investigation into what she said was a “blatant display of aggression” by Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith at a state Democratic Executive Committee meeting at the Rosen Centre hotel.
Smith, 38, said he was “stunned and confused” by the letter and the details she alleged were “simply false and did not occur.”
Omphroy, 40, a freshman representative from Lauderdale Lakes, wrote that Smith “approached me in a threatening and aggressive manner as I sat at the table with others. I was uncomfortable as [he] kneeled directly in front of my legs, at which point I was forced to readjust myself due to my attire, which was a dress and leggings.
“Smith pounded his hand and
lashed out at me with a barrage of offensive verbal assaults, and a display of blatant aggression in the presence of others who witnessed his behavior,” she continued. “Smith trapped my movements due to his strategic body placement and positioning of his body in front of me.”
Smith’s “bullying and demoralizing behavior must be addressed by you,” Omphroy wrote to Oliva and in an almost identical letter to the House Democratic Caucus.
“Smith’s behavior was a show of dominance over me as a woman,” she wrote. “This behavior against women must stop. … No women should suffer mental anguish or emotional distress from anyone, regardless of the abuser’s political affiliation, race or sexuality.”
Smith, the first openly gay Hispanic representative in Florida, said in a statement Monday that he and Omphroy “agree that we had a tense conversation about an important issue to both of us.”
But, Smith wrote, “I walked away from the exchange, which happened in a public space in front of multiple elected officials with a completely different understanding.
“I respect her and care about how we talk about these important issues together as colleagues,” Smith wrote. “I already reached out to [her] and to the Speaker to have this dialogue and hope she is interested in doing it in a constructive way.”
Rep. Anna Eskamani, DOrlando, who saw the interaction, said Smith approached Omphroy for clarity on a statement she made and kneeled in front of her.
“This was a simple and well-meaning conversation of clarity in a public room,” Eskamani said. “No abuse took place.”
She later added in a Twitter post the incident took place in a room with “100+ other people.”
However, she said, “I think it’s really important she and Carlos have a conversation … and any concerns she has of his body language are addressed. I know Carlos is going to do is part to correct it.”
Democratic House Caucus spokeswoman Marisol Samayoa said House Democratic Leader Kionne McGhee will meet separately with Omphroy and Smith.
“We take all allegations of verbal assault and harassment seriously,” Samoyoa said.
News Service of Florida reported Monday evening Oliva had launched a workplace-harassment investigation.
A spokesman for Oliva did not return a request for comment. Omphroy, who also wrote she expected “to be attacked by … Smith and supporters on social media because of my decision to speak out,” did not return additional requests for comment. She does not have a listed office in her district.
She won her seat in District 95, which includes parts of North Lauderdale, Lauderhill and Lauderdale Lakes, in 2018 after no other candidates qualified by the June filing deadline.
Smith is in his second term in Tallahassee after first being elected in 2016 to represent District 49, which includes parts of east Orange County including the University of Central Florida.
Staff writers Ryan Gillespie and Gray Rohrer contributed to this report. slemongello@orlandosentinel.com, 407-418-5920, @stevelemongello, facebook/stevelemongello