Dossier
Release the Mannion Files
John Mannion says his former staffers 'are not victims.' He says they were paid to come forward. He's offered no evidence. The report has never been released.
Former staffers said he and his wife were verbally abusive and sexist. He says they 'are not victims.'
File 01 — The allegations June 2024
In June 2024, three former staffers, signing as "Concerned Mannion Staff," published an anonymous open letter on Medium.
According to CNY Central, the former staffers' open letter claimed that Mannion and his wife were verbally abusive and sexist toward them.
The former staffers alleged mistreatment and harassment in Mannion's State Senate office. According to the open letter, as reported by CNY Central, Mannion was paranoid and quick to anger and created sexist policies at the request of his wife.
The staffers said they worked for him in various roles between 2020 and 2022. Two spoke to reporters anonymously, citing fear of retaliation.
Sources: CNY Central, June 2024 · WKTV, June 2024 · CNY Central, Aug. 30, 2024
File 02 — The secret report Aug. 2024
The New York State Senate hired an outside attorney, Michael Murphy of the firm Barclay Damon, to investigate. The investigator was retained and paid by the Senate.
A letter sent to one of the complainants, as reported by CNY Central, said a "detailed, confidential" report was submitted to the Secretary of the Senate.
According to the letter, as reported by CNY Central, it appears that neither Mannion nor the complainants have access to the report.
One complainant told CNY Central they were interviewed for about two hours and gave the investigator a list of other potential witnesses. They said none of those witnesses were contacted.
When Spectrum News 1 asked for a copy, the Senate declined, citing personnel matters.
Open-government and anti-harassment advocates criticized the secrecy. One noted the former staffers can appeal, but said that would be a challenge if they can't obtain a full copy of the report.
- The report
- Secret.
- The witnesses
- Never contacted, a complainant says.
- The accusers
- No access, as reported.
- The public
- Kept in the dark.
Sources: CNY Central, Aug. 30, 2024 · Spectrum News 1, Aug. 30, 2024
File 03 — What he says now Syracuse.com debate, 2026
His claim
The staffers were "compensated" to come forward.
The record
He offered no evidence. No reporting we found supports it.
His claim
It was "a political stunt."
The record
He offered no evidence.
His claim
"those victims, that are not victims"
The record
The quote stands on its own.
Syracuse.com debate · [DEBATE_DATE]
Buller:
"We have a whole situation right now, Cornell, and abuse of women, and those women all over the country coming out and telling their stories. John talks about being a proponent of transparency, but there was a harassment case against him when he was in the State Senate, and that report was never made public. So if you want transparency John, will you commit right now to releasing the report against the Jane Does who work for you and decided to cover up."
From the debate. Watch the full exchange.
"So what my opponent is referring to is a political stunt, that people were compensated…"
"…and those victims, that are not victims, right?"
"…and this person was a political stunt stop."
Source: Syracuse.com debate clip
File 04 — On the record House floor, June 12, 2025
His former staffers' open letter described him as quick to anger. In June 2025, C-SPAN's microphones picked him up shouting on the House floor.
On June 12, 2025, Mannion shouted profanities at Rep. Mike Lawler on the House floor. It happened out of view of C-SPAN's cameras, but the exchange was picked up on C-SPAN's microphones. WKTV reported that it began: "F***ing stop it, Lawler!"
Mannion defended the outburst in a written statement.
Source: WKTV, June 2025
File 05 — Kailee Buller
"Right now, women everywhere are watching what happens to people who speak out against powerful men and people in positions of power," said Kailee Buller. "John Mannion just showed them. He claimed his former staffers were paid, said they aren't victims, and tried to discredit them into silence. That is not a leader anyone can be proud of."
"I'm here to represent the people and be a voice for the voiceless. No matter who you are or what you've been through, I hear you."
They spoke up. He called them 'not victims.'
John Mannion won't answer for it. Voters can, on Nov. 3.
Timeline — The record, in order
-
2020–2022
Former staffers say they worked in Mannion's State Senate office.
CNY Central -
June 2024
Former staffers publish anonymous open letter.
CNY Central -
Aug. 2024
Senate investigation closes; report kept confidential.
CNY Central -
Aug. 30, 2024
Press reports the report is secret; a complainant says the witnesses they named weren't contacted.
CNY Central Spectrum News 1 -
Nov. 2024
Mannion elected to Congress (NY-22).
-
June 12, 2025
Profane outburst at Rep. Lawler on the House floor.
WKTV -
[DEBATE_DATE]
At the Syracuse.com debate, Mannion says staffers were 'compensated' and calls them 'those victims, that are not victims.'
Debate clip