Florida Republican lawmaker found liable for sexually harassing male staffers, faces resignation calls

Florida Democratic leaders called for the resignation of a Republican lawmaker whom a civil jury found liable for sexually harassing male staffers.A jury in Tallahassee said Florida Rep. Fabian Basabe, who once called himself a “gay Republican” but was elected while presenting himself as a conservative family man, should pay $450,000 in damages to two young, straight former staffers — legislative aide Nicolas Frevola and intern Jacob Cutbirth — who accused him of sexual harassment and other misconduct.Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, said the verdict should mark the end of the Republican’s political career.“Representative Basabe’s behavior is disgusting, and I am disturbed that the Republican leadership in the House engaged in a cover-up to shield Representative Basabe from the consequences of his actions. Representative Basabe has no business holding public office for another day, he must resign immediately,” Fried said.Related: Former staffer accuses Florida Republican Fabian Basabe of sexually battering man at his Miami home“Floridians are fed up with the rampant corruption in Tallahassee. Yesterday, a jury was able to deliver justice to those who were harmed by Basabe’s reckless behavior. This fall, voters will make their voices clear when they vote out Representative Basabe and his complicit Republican colleagues at the ballot box.”Basabe, who represented himself in the civil trial, has long denied the allegations and dismissed them as politically motivated. After the jury ordered him to pay damages, he told Florida Politics that he regretted defending himself and was considering his response to the verdict.“I chose to defend myself because I am still naïve enough to believe that truth matters, that an ordinary citizen can stand in court, defend himself, and be judged on the facts. I believed representing myself was the right thing to do because I am innocent and because, before this civil trial, these allegations had