Former Democratic Sen. David Boren, D-Okla., is accused of sexually assaulting a male student from the University of Oklahoma while Boren was the university’s president.
Boren, 77, who served as Oklahoma governor and U.S. senator prior to becoming the president of the University of Oklahoma, is accused by Jess Eddy, now 29, of inappropriately touching and kissing him nearly a decade ago. In the complaint, Eddy, who served as Boren’s teaching assistant, claims Boren had interacted with him inappropriately on multiple occasions during his time at the University of Oklahoma.
The university has hired Atlanta-based law firm Jones Day to investigate if Boren had in fact sexually assaulted Eddy. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has also launched its own investigation into the allegations against Boren.
NonDoc, an Oklahoma City-based journalism and media site, reported Tuesday on the allegations made by Eddy. He told NonDoc that Boren had harassed him and made inappropriate sexual advances on school premises, recounting certain inappropriate interactions between the two.
On one occassion, Eddy says Boren drove him to a nearby liquor store and gave him a $100 bill. Eddy says Boren told him to “get something for yourself.”
Boren has denied all allegations. His personal lawyer, Clark Brewster, told the Associated Press the allegations put forward by Eddy don’t match the statements submitted to himself and to the university. Eddy said in previous statements he did not recall inappropriate behavior by Boren.
“Mr. Eddy was carefully examined, asked about anything that he had ever witnessed or had seen or had experienced and not only said that didn’t occur, but he gave specific factual detail as to why it couldn’t have been true,” Brewster said.
Brewster said Boren mentored Eddy on general things pertaining to his education and his career ambitions but had the same kind of relationship with Eddy he would with any other student or subordinate.
“He would know him but not very well,” Mr. Brewster said.
