Cleveland woman sues GOP Ohio House candidate for sexual harassment after office encounter

Ohio House candidate sued for sexual harassment

CLEVELAND — A Cleveland woman has sued a Republican U.S. House candidate in Ohio, alleging he propositioned and groped her after she tried to volunteer for his campaign.

The 39-year-old woman says in a lawsuit filed Thursday in Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH’-guh) County that Tom Ganley offered her $100 to buy lingerie and encouraged her to join him and friends at a condominium.

The lawsuit alleges Ganley, a car salesman, tried to force himself on the woman during a 2009 meeting in his dealership office.

Ganley seeks to unseat Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton in November in a closely watched race.

Attorney Brent Buckley says Ganley denies the accusations and that his investigation has turned up nothing to confirm them. He says the lawsuit amounts to extortion and political opportunism.