Updated, Saturday, 2:15 p.m.
A Dallas County employee has released more details about her allegations against Zachary Thompson, the former county Health and Human Services director, who was fired over reports of sexual misconduct.
A local law firm released a statement Friday afternoon attributed to the unnamed employee. She says Thompson's "pattern of coerced sexual abuse, harassment, and intimidation" took place between 2013 and 2015. She says she endured the abuse because she feared losing her job.
Thompson's lawyer Anthony Lyons said earlier this month that the ousted director was aware of complaints about him and was eager to respond to them, but was not given the chance, the Dallas Morning News reported. Thompson denies the allegations, his lawyer has said.
Statements from Dallas County employee and her attorney
Statement from Dallas County Health and Human Services employee by KERANews on Scribd
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued a statement Saturday, saying the employee and her attorney "have raised serious allegations requiring thorough investigation."
— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) January 13, 2018
Jenkins initially didn't explain the reason for Thompson's dismissal. Jenkins offered more details the day after Thompson was fired, saying he first learned of the allegations a few days before Christmas.
Jan. 5 statement from Clay Jenkins
Judge Clay Jenkins Statement and Zach Thompson's Termination Letter by Robert Wilonsky on Scribd
Thompson had been set to retire at the end of the month. His lawyer has said Thompson learned of the firing through the media.
Thompson had led the department since 2004, after serving several years as deputy director. He played a leading role during the Ebola scare in Dallas in 2014 and other health concerns like the West Nile outbreak in 2012.
Ganesh Shivaramaiyer is serving as interim director.