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State Rep. Ramon Alexander says the relationship was consensual.
The Florida lawmaker leading state House Democrats into the midterms now faces allegations of groping and sexually harassing a man who previously worked at Florida A&M University.
The former FAMU athletic official, Michael Johnson Jr., filed complaints in February with the Florida Commission on Human Relations alleging Florida Rep. Ramon Alexander sent explicit photos and videos of himself, The Tallahassee Democrat reports.
Johnson was fired from the university in January.
Alexander represents Tallahassee, Florida's capital city and home to FAMU.
According to Johnson, Alexander threatened his job over the treatment of Alexander's brother-in-law, track coach Skye Dawson. While Alexander does not work at FAMU and Johnson has never worked for him, Johnson said Alexander threatened to use political relationships to have him terminated.
A written complaint filed by Johnson states he was "exposed to sexually offensive videos by someone affiliated with the defendant university, subjecting him to sexual harassment in the workplace." Johnson told the Democrat that someone was Alexander.
The state representative provided the newspaper with a statement confirming an adult consensual relationship with Johnson and publicly apologizing to his family.
"I am willing to acknowledge that I had a consensual, adult relationship with Mr. Johnson, but at no point was I ever his employer, an employee of FAMU, or involved in FAMU personnel decisions," Alexander's statement reads.
Rumors of the allegations began to swirl early this week, but Alexander made clear he and his wife have been aware of the accusations for some time.
"My family and I have been working through this for many months and I am sincerely sorry for my actions. I will make no further comments on this pending legal matter," he said.
The Florida legislature right now includes three out LGBTQ+ members, but Alexander has not been among that number. House Democrats have tapped Alexander as leader-designate for the Democratic caucus in the Florida House of Representatives.
Johnson told the local newspaper he never engaged in a physical relationship with the politician, but that he was propositioned by Alexander. He showed the newspaper alleged messages from the lawmaker, including one saying the two should have sex on Alexander's desk at the state capitol. He also shared a video allegedly of Alexander in the midst of a sex act.
Alexander has been a supporter of LGBTQ+ rights in the legislature. He earned national acclaim this year as a major critic of the Stop Woke Act, legislation pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis regarding critical race theory. He also participated in protests against the so-called "don't say gay" law in Florida.
