JSOnline:
A former top staffer to U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin has rejected a proposed severance deal that would have required her to remain silent regarding what she knew about the problems at the troubled Tomah VA Medical Center.
Now Marquette Baylor, ex-deputy state director for Baldwin and chief of her Milwaukee office, has hired a team of attorneys to explore litigation for wrongful termination or sexual discrimination. A source said Baylor believes she was one of the highest ranking heterosexuals on Baldwin's staff.
Baldwin is the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate.
"The deadline has passed, and Marquette rejected the offer," said one source close to Baylor.
A second source said the issue is now "in the senator's court."
"Marquette didn't want to be hogtied by the deal," the second source said. "She can now move on without any restrictions."
Baldwin's office had no comment. Bill Murat, Baldwin's chief of staff, was in Milwaukee on Tuesday but declined to talk to a reporter who visited the office.
The senator had clearly wanted this issue to go away.
But that's not going to happen.
No Quarter reported that Baldwin canned Baylor on Jan. 22in response to the growing controversy at the troubled Tomah VA Medical Center. Baylor made $80,000 in 2014.
But Baldwin and her staff won't even acknowledge terminating Baylor. More important, they won't disclose the proposed five-figure severance deal offered to Baylor that would have required her to keep quiet about the Tomah mess.
Now the head of the state Republican Party is calling on the first-term Democratic senator — in the middle of the biggest controversy of her career — to disclose the terms of the secret proposal.
"Baylor's allies are directly connecting Senator Baldwin to this questionable deal and coverup, and Baldwin should have the integrity to stop hiding and address this serious situation," said Joe Fadness, executive director of the state GOP.
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