“In yet another example, Plaintiff raised concerns about possible embezzlement of certain funds from the AFA defendants during the meeting on the topic of taxes due to the IRS,” according to the complaint.
The complaint alleges that AFA leaders took no action to address Chambers’ allegations of financial improprieties. It also cites AFA’s official whistleblower policy, published on the group’s website. That policy requires staff and board members to report any “questionable accounting matters” as well as other acts of misconduct, dishonesty or fraud.
“No director, officer or staff member who in good faith reports a concern shall be (subject) to retaliation or adverse employment consequences,” according to the AFA whistleblower policy. “Moreover, a director, officer or staff member who retaliates against someone who has reported a concern in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including removal from the Board or termination of employment.”
Chambers’ employment at AFA came to an end in the fall of 2022, after the daughter of AFA President Tim Wildmon allegedly claimed she’d had a dream in which Chambers kissed her infant child on the lips.
“Wildmon further went on to state that she would no longer bring her minor children to the office because Plaintiff might harm them,” according to the complaint, which also alleges that Wildmon’s daughter shared those concerns with her family, several of whom work for AFA.
At a meeting on Sept. 22, 2022, Chambers alleges he again raised the issue of sexual harassment and what he considered defamatory comments made by Wildmon’s daughter in a meeting with AFA leaders.
Six hours after that meeting, according to the complaint, Chambers was fired in a call.
“Leadership has been talking and we just think it would be best for (us) to let you go,” AFA Executive Vice President Ed Vitagliano told Chambers, according to a transcript of the call filed as an exhibit with the complaint. During the call, Vitagliano told Chambers his firing was due to a lack of respect for leadership, not his whistleblower complaints.
AFA did offer Chambers severance if he signed an agreement promising “a continual duty of loyalty to AFA” and banning him from making any negative comments about the organization, according to a copy of the severance agreement attached to the complaint as an exhibit.
“In the event AFA determines in its sole discretion that you failed to abide by this Severance Agreement, AFA will no longer be bound to issue Severance Payments to you and you will be obligated to reimburse AFA the money you received in Severance as well as any fees incurred (legal or otherwise) to collect the aforesaid reimbursement.”
Chambers declined to sign the severance agreement. He alleges he has not been able to find work in his field after the termination. The complaint asks for compensation for lost wages and emotional distress as well as punitive damages.
This article originally appeared here.
, a conservative group that promotes “the biblical ethic of decency in American society,” has sued the religious-right group, accusing leaders of firing him after he reported alleged sexual harassment and financial irregularities.){kind=link}