In a letter sent back to the groups on Thursday and received by POLITICO, Morse wrote, ‘I want to make it clear that every relationship I have had has been consensual. However, I also acknowledge that I need to be aware of my position of power. He went on to say: “Navigating life as both a young gay man and an elected official can be difficult, but that excuses not bad judgment.”
In a statement, Morse acknowledged relationships with students and said the relationships were consensual. Asked if the allegations of ‘sexual contact’ with students at the college he teaches, Morse’s campaign did not respond. A representative for the school did not respond to a request for comment Friday night.
The letter was first reported by The Massachusetts Daily Collegian.
The 31-year-old politician was elected nine years ago as the first open gay mayor and youngest mayor of the small western Massachusetts town and has since thrown himself into a fire-ridden politician working to renovate a troubled city.
Morse is one of several left-wing congressional candidates who have endorsed this cycle by Justice Democrats, the group that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.), Jamaal Bowman of New York helped and Cori Bush in St. Louis defeating Democratic scammers in primary. The group is doing a positive television commercial for Morse ahead of the Sept. 1 primary.
Primary voting in Massachusetts has already begun. Voters now receive their post-in-ballots, a few weeks prior to the primary.
Earlier this week, the progressive Working Families Party signed Morse as the left looked to win a few more victories from this cycle. And another progressive group, Fight Monopolies for Business, affiliated with the American Economic Liberties Project, spends $ 300,000 on ads that promote Neal attacks and Morse.
Justice Democrats, the Working Families Party and Fight Corporate Monopolies did not immediately respond to comments.
“I’m sure my opponent will be sure to turn this into something that is not about scoring political points, but I would be wary of enjoying old negative stereotypes about gay men,” Morse said in a statement. to POLITICO. “I will not excuse myself for living life out of the closet, for being on dates and having consensual conversations.” Morse also said he was “committed to meeting with any person or group, including the College Dems, to answer any questions and address any issues.”
An official with knowledge of the talks said no meeting is planned at this time.
“Our organizations feel it is our duty to proclaim adverse behavior, regardless of party affiliation or political ideology,” the groups wrote. She added that she found his behavior to be “unacceptable”, even if it was consensual. “Morse will no longer be welcome at our events, and our organizations will be completely free of Morse.”
