A new lawsuit has drawn attention to Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden (D) and his family, alleging that his children subjected their mother’s personal assistant to repeated harassment, including homophobic insults and sexually explicit comments, which ultimately contributed to his suicide.
The claims stand in stark contrast to Wyden’s decades-long record of championing LGBT issues in Congress.
Brandon O’Brien, 35, worked for Wyden’s wife, Nancy Bass Wyden, owner of Manhattan’s Strand Bookstore, from June 2022 through September 2024.
His responsibilities included transporting the couple’s young children to school, supervising them on outings and accompanying the family on trips such as Disney World vacations.
The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court by O’Brien’s partner, Thomas Maltezos, asserts that troubling behavior by the children began within months of O’Brien starting the job.
In one incident, the couple’s then-10-year-old daughter allegedly exposed herself to O’Brien and made sexually suggestive comments regarding his personal life.
According to Maltezos, Bass Wyden failed to intervene.
In addition, the Wydens’ teenage son reportedly engaged in verbal attacks, using slurs including “faggot” and “zest kitten,” and allegedly threatened that his football teammates would harm O’Brien.
In a confrontation with her son, Bass Wyden attempted to use mace to restrain him but accidentally sprayed O’Brien.
Witnesses, including Maltezos and his partner’s mother, claim to have observed the incidents firsthand, the New York Post reports.
Legal representatives for Bass Wyden have moved to dismiss the case, describing the claims as “baseless and deeply misguided.”
They contend that O’Brien engaged in misconduct during his employment, citing what they call a “pattern of theft” from the household.
O’Brien resigned in late September 2024.
The following day, authorities received a report from Bass Wyden accusing him of stealing more than $650,000.
Law enforcement opened an investigation, which was later closed after O’Brien’s death by suicide in May.
Maltezos and his attorneys maintain that the accusations were fabricated to discredit O’Brien.
The lawsuit further alleges that Bass Wyden escalated her actions after O’Brien left, hiring a private investigator and circulating damaging rumors to professional contacts.
Maltezos’ attorneys argue that these actions intensified O’Brien’s emotional distress and played a role in his death.
In a statement, they described the treatment as “shocking, disturbing, and cruel—no person should ever face this level of harassment at work.”
Wyden, 76, has served in Congress since 1981 and became a U.S. senator in 1996, according to Breitbart.
He publicly endorsed same-sex marriages in 1995 and has consistently supported measures defending LGBT rights internationally.
Throughout his career, he has frequently criticized conservative policies and clashed with President Trump on immigration, financial regulation and other issues.
Wyden married Bass Wyden in 2005. The couple has three children together, in addition to Wyden’s two adult children from a previous marriage.
While they maintain a residence in Portland, Bass Wyden often spends time in New York managing the family bookstore.
Despite Wyden’s progressive advocacy, the lawsuit portrays a tumultuous family environment behind closed doors.
The case is ongoing and could create significant political challenges for a lawmaker long regarded as a prominent voice for liberal causes.
