CWU puts lawmaker-professor on leave

OLYMPIA  — A state lawmaker who is facing scrutiny over past allegations of sexual harassment while teaching at Central Washington University has been placed on leave by the school because of a new investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct.

The News Tribune and Northwest News Network reported Monday that the university would not disclose any further details of the investigation of Republican Rep. Matt Manweller.

“No further information can be disclosed at this time, except to confirm that the investigation will be thorough, objective and fair,” Kremiere Jackson, the school’s vice president of public affairs, said in a written statement.

Manweller, who said he didn’t learn he was on paid leave until he showed up to work Monday and his computer was gone, said he received a letter from the university notifying him of the school’s investigation.

The move comes as Manweller, who is a political science professor at the college, has been the subject of new reports related to 2012 and 2013 investigations of him by the school into allegations of sexual harassment.

Manweller has denied those allegations, along with other recent allegations by women who have told the Legislature interactions with Manweller made them uncomfortable.

The university never determined the previous allegations against Manweller to be substantiated, though school officials formally reprimanded Manweller at least once, saying he had problems maintaining boundaries with students. Investigators also concluded in the 2013 report that there was evidence Manweller broke CWU’s sexual harassment rules.