TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly refused to discuss allegations of a toxic work environment at the Kansas Democratic Party Thursday, a week after claims of bullying from former staffers became public.
Last week The Star reported that the state party had hired a Kansas City law firm to conduct an internal investigation into allegations against Ben Meers, the party’s executive director. Former employees told The Star they faced serious mental health ramifications as a result of what they described as erratic and verbally abusive treatment.
Two of those employees were told in an email from the party’s state chair that their allegations against Meers were partially corroborated by the internal investigation, but the party never released the report from the investigation or detailed the changes they made in response to it. Meers continues to run the day-to-day operations heading into the midterm elections.
