NY judge found ‘credible evidence’ that Sen. Ron Wyden’s kids relentlessly harassed wife’s assistant before suicide: docs

A recent labor decision made by a New York judge revealed shocking details about the alleged mistreatment of a personal assistant, Brandon O’Brien, by the children of Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden. The judge found “credible evidence” that the children used “abhorrent” homophobic slurs towards O’Brien, including calling him names like “little zest bunny” before his tragic suicide.

O’Brien had worked for Wyden’s wife, Nancy Bass Wyden, who owns the famous Strand Bookstore in New York City. The assistant’s employment ended in September 2024, and he later sought unemployment benefits, leading to a legal battle with Bass Wyden. The judge ultimately ruled in favor of O’Brien, affirming his claims of a hostile work environment.

The court documents revealed that the Wyden children, particularly a 15-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter, sent text messages to O’Brien containing homophobic slurs. The son even referred to O’Brien using derogatory terms, which were witnessed by Bass Wyden, who reportedly reprimanded her son for his behavior.

O’Brien had also complained to Bass Wyden about her daughter’s inappropriate behavior towards him, and the harassment continued until he received a final homophobic message from the son, prompting him to resign from his position. The judge stated that there was “credible evidence” to support O’Brien’s decision to leave the job due to ongoing harassment from the children.

Bass Wyden attempted to argue that O’Brien resigned because he knew he was going to be fired for theft, including credit card fraud. However, the judge found no evidence to support this claim and sided with O’Brien’s version of events.

Tragically, O’Brien took his own life in May, leading to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his widower, Thomas Maltezos, against Bass Wyden’s real estate company. The lawsuit alleges that the abuse O’Brien endured from Wyden’s children contributed to his suicide.

Bass Wyden’s legal team has denied the allegations in the lawsuit, calling them “baseless” and “deeply misguided.” They have filed a motion to dismiss the case, claiming that O’Brien misrepresented the events that took place during his employment.

The shocking revelations from the labor decision highlight the importance of addressing workplace harassment and creating a safe and respectful environment for all employees. The tragic outcome of O’Brien’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of bullying and discrimination in the workplace. As we continue to navigate through the ever-changing landscape of our world, it is important to stay informed and educated about current events and issues. One topic that has been at the forefront of discussions recently is the impact of climate change on our planet.

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