Joel Tyner Resigns From County Legislature

RHINEBECK, NY — Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner announced Wednesday that he resigned from the law-making body. His resignation comes after accusations of sexual harassment.

Ashley Casale, who is the administrator of the Facebook page Hudson Valley Feminist Collective, said she and other members had been sexually harassed by the legislator, the Poughkeepsie Journal said.

In a statement, the collective said Tyner used his position to prey upon younger women, calling it a decades-long pattern of abuse.

Tyner said he has never knowingly sexually harassed anyone and that there have been "tons" of lies spread about him, the Poughkeepsie Journal reported.

Tyner, a Democrat, represented District 11, which covers Rhinebeck and Clinton. He was a member of the environment and government services and administration committees.

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Photo credit: Dutchess County Legislature.