Rape claim against governor campaign worker settles for USD 1M

A lawsuit brought by a state employee alleging that a fellow worker on the campaign of Democratic Governor Phil Murphy raped her has been settled for USD 1 million, her lawyers said Friday, wrapping up a case that reinforced perceptions of misogyny in state politics and led to a legislative investigation.

Brennan's attorneys said USD 400,000 of the settlement would pay for legal fees and the firm would donate the rest to The Waterfront Project, a nonprofit that offers legal aid to poor people, older adults, veterans and people with disabilities in northern New Jersey's Hudson County.

All survivors deserve the excellent support I had, Brennan said in a news release.

I hope to create that support for others so that a lack of legal representation is never a barrier to justice.

Her lawsuit named the state of New Jersey, the Murphy campaign and Albert Alvarez, the man she says sexually assaulted her in April 2017.

The settlement is being paid by the state and the campaign, according to Brennan's lawyers, who also said in their news release that Alvarez has agreed to meet confidentially with Brennan and to attend a class about sexual harassment.

Alvarez did not immediately offer any comment Friday. Murphy called the settlement fair and reasonable."