Allegations of sexual harassment against Shahid Buttar have been joined by claims from the congressional hopeful’s campaign staff regarding a “culture of misogyny” created by Buttar. Buttar is seeking to claim the congressional seat for San Francisco that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has held since 1987. He is a democratic socialist challenging Pelosi from her left, but socialist groups in the city have been distancing themselves from Buttar since these allegations emerged.

Croydon’s Allegations Against Shahid Buttar

Shahid Buttar is facing allegations that he sexually harassed comedian, artist, and filmmaker Elizabeth Croyden. Croyden says she’s known Buttar for 20 years and that he began harassing her when they met and has continued to sexually harass her. In an article she wrote for Medium, Croyden says Buttar “repeatedly pursued me for sex.”

“I physically distanced myself from him at parties, turned down invitations, informed a friend I felt uncomfortable, avoided being alone with him, and eventually stopped going to the communal home until he moved out,” Croydon wrote in her article. “Shahid let me know he was sexually available to me for years.”

One incident which Croyden claims made her particularly uncomfortable and was “intimately embarrassing and traumatic for me to talk about,” came following a poetry reading. When Croyden admitted during a conversation on the topic that she had been celibate for years by choice, Buttar reportedly made her feel “degraded, nauseated, and revolted” by expressing shock and pity.

“Shahid’s response shocked and embarrassed me,” Croydon wrote. “‘Oh, my god, that is way too long! How can you go without sex that long? That’s insane! I couldn’t do it, you poor thing. It must be so hard.’”

Croyden wrote that she explained to Buttar that her celibacy was a decision she made “because it helped me cope with surviving sexual assaults, batteries and other misconduct. I felt that he would mock me in front of friends who looked to me as an outspoken voice for women.”

Croydon’s allegations continue into the evening with Buttar saying the group needed to find someone to have sex with Croydon, “Someone will do it… I’d do it but I’m taken.” Croydon reminded Buttar that her celibacy was choice due to her history with sexual trauma, but Buttar allegedly continued to try to “recruit” other men to have sex with her.

Campaign Culture of Misogyny

According to the Intercept, Shahid Buttar is now also facing allegations that he fosters a culture of misogyny and abuse in his campaign. Staffers claim Buttar exhibited a pattern of degradation and abuse, particularly towards women.

“I can vouch for the culture of misogyny that existed in the campaign,” Raya Steier, a former full-time field organizer for Buttar’s campaign told Intercept. “I have experienced it personally.”

Since March 10, staffers and contractors have departed including Buttar’s top three staffers. The San Francisco chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA SF) will also soon vote on whether or not to rescind the party’s endorsement of Buttar. The resolution cites Croydon’s accusation as well as “a pattern of abuse including but not limited to sexual inappropriate behavior with his staff and volunteers.” The resolution goes on to claim that Buttar “mismanaged his campaign by treating his campaign team, specifically the women, in a belittling, demeaning, hyper controlling and abusive manner.” These behaviors were corroborated by Intercept interviews with staffers.

The resolution is scheduled for a vote on Aug. 4.

Buttar’s Response

Buttar has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, claiming that staffer turnover was caused by “staff improvement” rather than sexual harassment in the workplace.

“Every survivor must be heard, and I hope to be allowed the same opportunity to be heard as well,” Buttar said in a statement. “Sexual harassment is despicable. Those who exploit structural sexism and power imbalances must be exposed. I am committed to putting survivors’ interests before my own.”

“Our campaign welcomes any scrutiny,” Buttar said, and scrutiny he has received. In addition to the resolution to rescind the DSA SF endorsement, a pro-Bernie Sanders group, SFBerniecrats, has also expressed concerns over Croydon’s allegations. Other progressive figures in California including Supervisor Dean Preston and Vallie Brown, Preston’s former election opponent, have also distanced themselves from Buttar, signing a petition to rescind endorsement and calling Buttar absolutely disqualified from holding office.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.