Legislator's Speak Motivates Woman to File Sexual Harassment Charges
Federico Tinoco Carmona, a legislative member of the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) categorically denied the accusations of sexual harassment against him by a former assistant, who says she was fired because she refused his sexual advances.

Tinoco told the legislature that this is a case of misunderstanding, that he is a very "intense" person and that his actions have been misunderstood and offered his apologies for the scandal that has surrounded the Legislative Assembly for the past few days.

Tinoco denies the accusations. The legislator has asked time to speak before the assembly to "dispel" rumours that have been headline news the last couple of days, where a woman working for Tinoco had made public accusations of sexual harassment against the legislator, but did not name him.

Tinoco was visibly agitated during his allocution.

"These days rumours have spread of improper conduct by a member of this assembly. The rumours have be constituted by some as certain evidence. I am convinced that that is a sensitive issue. The rumours have taken to become evidence and has given rise to a scandal that damages the image of this parliament.

"Those who know me, know that I am a studious person, dedicated to my work and the poor and have fought hard to that end.

"They know me that when everything goes well I celebrate with passion and happinees and that I am a very affectionate person and express my feelings with gratitude and very expressive.

"I have to recognize as a public person I have to control myself as it can be misinterpretated and offer my sincerest apologies for the rumours."

However, there are those in the Legislature and former depute Gloria Valerín, who has been very active in defending women's rights, said that woman who was sexually harassed by the legislator will be filing formal charges after listening to Tinoco's statement.

The woman, according to Valerín, who will be acting as lawyer on her behalf, said that she is not to exact vengeance, but rather to clear her name, she doesn't to want to leave her children the legacy of doubts of her conduct.

The former legislator is asking that the Legislative Assembly to take action action one of their own, saying that the law applies to everyone, especially the deputies that are obligated to respect the laws of the Republic.

To protect her identity, the woman accusing Tinoco of sexually harassing has yet to be identified publicly. However, it is a matter of public record that the woman, who is married and is mother of 4 children, was fired from her job at the Legislature. Valerín is also asking that the woman be re-hired.