Former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. Has Been Fired From Morgan Stanley for Alleged Sexual Misconduct

Former Tennessee Democratic Congressman Harold Ford Jr. has been fired from his job at Morgan Stanley after at least one woman came forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct.

A spokesperson confirmed Ford’s exit with HuffPost, writing in an email that he was terminated for “conduct inconsistent with our values and in violation of our policies.” Morgan Stanley’s HR department opened an investigation based on the testimony of a woman who communicated with HuffPost about her experience being accosted by Ford during what was supposed to be a business meeting:

In two interviews with HuffPost, the woman alleged that Ford engaged in harassment, intimidation, and forcibly grabbed her one evening in Manhattan, leading her to seek aid from a building security guard. The incident took place several years ago when Ford and the woman were supposed to be meeting for professional reasons. Ford continued to contact her after the encounter until she wrote an email asking him to cease contact.

The emails were reviewed by HuffPost, and a friend of the alleged victim confirmed that she told them the story of the encounter at the time, and appeared “distraught, shocked, and frightened.”

Ford served in the United States House of Representatives for ten years, before running for a Senate seat, which he narrowly lost. He has been working at Morgan Stanley since 2011 as a managing director. The Hill reports that Ford has denied all the allegations in a statement, which reads:

This simply did not happen. I have never forcibly grabbed any woman or man in my life. Having drinks and dinner for work is part of my job, and all of my outreach to the new reporter making these false allegations was professional and at the direction of my firm for business purposes. I support and have tremendous respect for the brave women now speaking out in this important national dialogue. False claims like this undermine the real silence breakers.

Ford also stated he would be taking legal action against the HuffPost, and Morgan Stanley for wrongful termination.