Democrats open sexual harassment probe into Rep.-elect Brian Poindexter, who ousted GOP Rep. Max Miller

Brian Poindexter, the Bernie Sanders-backed Democrat who beat Republican Rep. Max Miller in Ohio's 7th Congressional District last week, is being investigated over a sexual harassment allegation from a campaign worker, the New York Post reported early Saturday, citing Politico.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Poindexter's own campaign have both launched investigations. "The DCCC has been made aware of the allegations and takes them seriously," DCCC executive director Julie Merz said, adding that the committee hired an independent, third-party firm to "conduct interviews and gather the facts." The DCCC said the probe would be "swift, thorough and transparent."

A Poindexter campaign spokesperson said the Democrat "gave what he thought was an innocuous compliment to a volunteer," and that "he heard later that it made her feel uncomfortable and he felt awful." The campaign said it is also working with an outside firm.

Poindexter, 47, a union ironworker and former Brook Park city councilman, won the race by about 10 points. The Post noted he faced past controversies during the campaign, including a 1998 arrest in which he allegedly swallowed crack cocaine during a traffic stop and a 2013 arrest for allegedly slapping a stranger, as reported by the Washington Free Beacon. The harassment claim is an allegation; no findings have been made.