Changes

In 2018, Schedler was named the defendant in [[sexual harassment]] lawsuit filed by an unidentified employee still working in the office of the secretary of state. In response to the suit, Schedler, who has long been estranged from his wife, said that the relationship with the woman was consensual. However, the woman's attorney, Jill Craft, claims that the relationship was not consensual and began as early as 2007, before Schedler was the secretary of state and still a deputy to Jay Dardenne. The suit alleges that Schedler bought a townhouse in the complex where the woman lives and spied on her and that he obtained her cell phone to look through her contacts, including a boyfriend. In 2014, the harassment expanded to text, email messages, and cards "that became more sexual" in theme, according to the suit. He allegedly addressed her as "My dearest sunshine."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/02/schedler_claims_consensual_rel.html|title=Schedler claims consensual relationship with employee suing him for sexual harassment|date=February 22, 2018|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|author=Greg LaRose|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> The suit also claims that Schedler showed the woman [[pornography]].<ref name=wafb/>

In 2018, Schedler was named the defendant in [[sexual harassment]] lawsuit filed by an unidentified employee still working in the office of the secretary of state. In response to the suit, Schedler, who has long been estranged from his wife, said that the relationship with the woman was consensual. However, the woman's attorney, Jill Craft, claims that the relationship was not consensual and began as early as 2007, before Schedler was the secretary of state and still a deputy to Jay Dardenne. The suit alleges that Schedler bought a townhouse in the complex where the woman lives and spied on her and that he obtained her cell phone to look through her contacts, including a boyfriend. In 2014, the harassment expanded to text, email messages, and cards "that became more sexual" in theme, according to the suit. He allegedly addressed her as "My dearest sunshine."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/02/schedler_claims_consensual_rel.html|title=Schedler claims consensual relationship with employee suing him for sexual harassment|date=February 22, 2018|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|author=Greg LaRose|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> The suit also claims that Schedler showed the woman [[pornography]].<ref name=wafb/>

The sexual harassment suit prompted Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] and Republican state Senator Sharon Woodall Hewitt, who represents St. Tammany Parish, to call for Schedler's resignation as secretary of state. Hewitt said: "Sadly, I have reached the conclusion that Secretary Schedler can no longer be an effective leader or role model for our state. In the coming days, I hope that he too will reach the same conclusion and consider stepping down."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brproud.com/news/local-news/governor-and-other-state-leadership-join-together-in-calling-for-schedlers-resignation/998699217|title=Governor and other state leadership join together in calling for Schedler's resignation|date=February 28, 2018|author=Norman Dotson|publisher=Brproud.com (Fox 44)|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> Schedler said that while he would not resign, he will not seek a third full term as secretary of state in the 2019 state elections. He indicated that an immediate resignation would be "cowardly" and noted that his office must prepare for the 2018 national election as well as ongoing special or local elections.<ref name=wafb>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafb.com/story/37728968/attorney-for-schedlers-accuser-fires-back-following-his-decision-to-not-resign-immediately|title=Attorney for Schedler's accuser fires back following his decision not to resign immediately|publisher=WAFB-TV|author=Scottie Hunter|date=March 14, 2018|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

The sexual harassment suit prompted Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] and Republican state Senator Sharon Woodall Hewitt, who represents St. Tammany Parish, to call for Schedler's resignation. Hewitt said: "Sadly, I have reached the conclusion that Secretary Schedler can no longer be an effective leader or role model for our state. In the coming days, I hope that he too will reach the same conclusion and consider stepping down."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brproud.com/news/local-news/governor-and-other-state-leadership-join-together-in-calling-for-schedlers-resignation/998699217|title=Governor and other state leadership join together in calling for Schedler's resignation|date=February 28, 2018|author=Norman Dotson|publisher=Brproud.com (Fox 44)|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> Schedler said that while he would not resign, he will not seek a third full term as secretary of state in the 2019 state elections. He indicated that an immediate resignation would be "cowardly" and noted that his office must prepare for the 2018 national election as well as ongoing special or local elections.<ref name=wafb>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafb.com/story/37728968/attorney-for-schedlers-accuser-fires-back-following-his-decision-to-not-resign-immediately|title=Attorney for Schedler's accuser fires back following his decision not to resign immediately|publisher=WAFB-TV|author=Scottie Hunter|date=March 14, 2018|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

 

When sexually suggestive emails and messages in the Schedler case emerged on April 24, 2018, Republican Senator [[John Neely Kennedy]] renewed his call that the secretary of state resign his office immediately.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_2d3b3e66-4a1e-11e8-b3e5-ffff5d8350fe.html|title=John Kennedy 'saddened' by revelation of Tom Schedler messages, calls for him to resign|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=April 27, 2018}}</ref>

==References==

==References==