From New York Post · · 1m 10s
Oregon county chair caught flipping off colleague on live stream
Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington made an obscene gesture during a publicly broadcast meeting, sparking calls for accountability.
In brief
Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington made an obscene gesture during a publicly broadcast meeting, sparking calls for accountability. Public officials are increasingly held accountable for unprofessional behavior caught on camera, with colleagues and constituents demanding higher standards of conduct. Originally…
Chair makes obscene gesture on camera
Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington flipped off Commissioner Nafisa Fai during a livestreamed Tuesday morning meeting after asking her to stop blocking her view.
“Did you see the finger?”
Fai calls out the gesture mid-meeting
Commissioner Nafisa Fai paused the meeting to ask if anyone witnessed Harrington's gesture, but no board members responded and the meeting continued.
Fellow commissioner demands accountability
Commissioner Pam Treece called on Harrington to apologize, saying she was shocked and disappointed. Treece returned Harrington's campaign contribution and removed her endorsement.
“As leaders, we have to hold ourselves to higher standards.”
Harrington apologizes for unprofessional conduct
The chair issued a statement Tuesday afternoon calling her actions unprofessional and apologizing to Fai, board members, county staff, and the community.
“My reaction was very plainly not appropriate in any instance.”
Pattern of troubling behavior emerges
A 2022 investigation found Harrington's treatment of county employees was abusive. More recently, she allegedly yelled at a staffer in March, leaving them in tears.
Here's the gist
Public officials are increasingly held accountable for unprofessional behavior caught on camera, with colleagues and constituents demanding higher standards of conduct.
