Anti-LGBTQ+ Republican Victoria Spartz accused of bullying staff with degrading insults until they quit
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 02: Ukrainian-American U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) attends a news conference on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the U.S. Capitol on March 02, 2022 in Washington, DC. Spartz spoke in support of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s resolution to investigate Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Notoriously anti-LGBTQ+ Republican Victoria Spartz has driven out multiple staffers with her “bullying” behaviour, it’s been alleged.
According to a study by congressional authority LegiStorm, Spartz was the “worst boss” in the House of Representatives last year, with the highest turnover of staff.
Politico reported that a further four aides are expected to depart the Indiana Republican’s office this month alone, with another exiting a few weeks ago. She is expected to hit the top spot again this year.
According to several sources who spoke to Politico anonymously, the rising turnover mostly derives from a hostile work environment where Spartz constantly demeans staff members.
Interviews with eight former staffers and anonymous Republicans painted a picture of Spartz as an “unpredictable boss” with a short temper.
“That’s the common theme,” one told the outlet. “Staffers do their job, and then Victoria comes in saying that they have no idea what they’re doing, that they are morons, calling them ‘idiots’.
“Senior staff was amazing. That staff was really trauma bonded… We’ve all been through some s**t.”
According to the expose, Spartz is notorious for “bullying” aides to the point they quit, rather than firing them herself.
This wasn’t the only reason for the constant departures, however. Staffers also said she is notoriously indecisive when it comes to basic decisions, to the point that it has become commonplace for employees to record conversations (with her consent).
However, it’s said that Spartz still refutes her own words, even when they’ve been recorded.
The allegations haven’t fallen on deaf ears, with GOP leadership reportedly expressing concerns over her office haemorrhaging staff. Leadership officials have twice addressed her poor performance since the end of last year, Politico reported.
Spartz has acknowledged her placement in the study, saying in a statement that her working style isn’t “for everyone”.
She also thanked her current and former staff, telling Politico that she “works extremely hard for the people of Indiana.”
As well as Spartz, several other Republican officials were listed on LegiStorm’s table, including representative Nanette Diaz Barragan and representative. Jimmy Panetta. The study also includes the highest turnover in the Senate with senator Amy Klobuchar hitting the top spot.
Spartz is notorious for her anti-trans speeches, including the one she gave in February 2021 where she publically condemned the Equality Act after voting against it, saying the bill would force women to share “traditionally women-only spaces with biological men even if a biological male fraudulently gains access”.
She also strongly disagrees with adding sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
