A new lawsuit has drawn attention to Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden (D) and his family, alleging that his children subjected their mother’s personal assistant to repeated harassment, including homophobic insults and sexually explicit comments, which ultimately contributed to his suicide.
The claims stand in stark contrast to Wyden’s decades-long record of championing LGBT issues in Congress.
Brandon O’Brien, 35, worked for Wyden’s wife, Nancy Bass Wyden, owner of Manhattan’s Strand Bookstore, from June 2022 through September 2024.
His responsibilities included transporting the couple’s young children to school, supervising them on outings and accompanying the family on trips such as Disney World vacations.
The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court by O’Brien’s partner, Thomas Maltezos, asserts that troubling behavior by the children began within months of O’Brien starting the job.
In one incident, the couple’s then-10-year-old daughter allegedly exposed herself to O’Brien and made sexually suggestive comments regarding his personal life.
According to Maltezos, Bass Wyden failed to intervene.
In addition, the Wydens’ teenage son reportedly engaged in verbal attacks, using slurs including “faggot” and “zest kitten,” and allegedly threatened that his football teammates would harm O’Brien.
In a confrontation with her son, Bass Wyden attempted to use mace to restrain