Key Takeaways
- Glenn Hamer, leader of the Texas Association of Business, is accused of sexual assault and harassment.
- An anonymous plaintiff known as “Jane Doe” filed the Hamer lawsuit seeking over $10 million in damages.
- The lawsuit claims Hamer used his influence to groom and then retaliate when she rejected him.
- The Texas Association of Business placed Hamer on leave and named an interim CEO.
- The case raises questions about power abuse in Texas’s top business and political circles.
What happened?
A lawsuit filed in Travis County accuses Glenn Hamer, the president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, of sexually harassing and assaulting a woman. In her 13-page filing, the plaintiff, called “Jane Doe,” says Hamer used his powerful role to pressure her into a relationship. When she refused, the suit says, he turned on her and tried to ruin her career.
Inside the Hamer Lawsuit Allegations
The Hamer lawsuit states that beginning in 2022, Hamer offered to help Jane Doe advance her advocacy group for startups. He even connected her with key people. At the time, Hamer also chaired the Texas Venture Alliance, the same group Doe led. The two organizations had teamed up in 2024 to boost entrepreneurship.
According to the suit, Hamer first pursued Doe with flattery and promises. Then in May, he tried to remove her pants and “mount” her at an event. When she escaped, he followed her and kept trying. Afterward, he apologized, saying he was “disgusted with himself” and offered cash to make her “forget about it.” She refused.
The Hamer lawsuit also lists two other incidents, one in June in Denton and another in October in Washington, where he allegedly made unwanted sexual advances. When Doe again said no, the suit says Hamer began a campaign of retaliation.
Retaliation and Damage to Reputation
The lawsuit claims that Hamer used his status to smear Doe’s reputation. He rerouted a planned donation away from her group and helped set up a rival organization. Then he allegedly handed that new group Doe’s own business plans and ideas. As her salary depended on her group’s income, these actions threatened her job and her dream…