Oklahoma GOP State Senator Accused of Sexually Assaulting Uber Driver

A female Uber driver in Oklahoma City who alleges she was sexually assaulted by a passenger has identified the perpetrator as Republican State Sen. Bryce Marlatt, reports TV station KFOR.

The driver told police that a passenger became physical with her while she was driving him to his hotel. The passenger "grabb[ed] her forcefully" and "kiss[ed] [her] on the neck while she was driving" June 26, according to HuffPost. The driver's name has not been made public.

The beleaguered ride-sharing company Uber, which has come under fire in the past year for its culture of sexual harassment, spurred in large part by former CEO Travis Kalanick's actions, wrote in a statement regarding the alleged incident with Marlatt, "What's been reported is not tolerated and has no place on the Uber app. We are working with the Oklahoma City Police Department and will provide any information to them that would be helpful for their ongoing investigation."

As a member of the state Senate, to which he was first elected in 2008, Marlatt has sponsored a bill that would jail pregnant women found guilty of using illegal substances and cosponsored a bill banning abortion at 20 weeks.

While Marlatt has not addressed Uber driver's accusations, his attorney told HuffPost, "The senator is shocked and surprised by the allegations and has asked his legal counsel to work with Uber to get to the bottom of this."

In 2014 Marlatt was arrested on a DUI-related charge when he was found passed out drunk in his GMC truck in an intersection in Woodward, Okla.