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Former Santorum, Romney Staffer Accused of Same-Sex Sexual Misconduct at Citadel

Former Santorum, Romney Staffer Accused of Same-Sex Sexual Misconduct at Citadel

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Steven Munoz, a 23-year-old Citadel grad who has worked on Rick Santorum's presidential campaign, has been charged with unwanted sexual misconduct.

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A suspect currently being investigated for sexual harassment at The Citadel is a former Rick Santorum campaign aide who also did ad hoc work for Mitt Romney's campaign, according to Buzzfeed.

Steven Munoz, a 23-year-old graduate of South Carolina's military college, The Citadel, has been accused of sexually harassing two younger male cadets while Munoz was a student, according to internal reports obtained by Buzzfeed. The two cadets -- who are both still enrolled at The Citadel -- reported the assaults last week, although the alleged misconduct took place in 2011 and 2010.

Munoz, who graduated last year, is accused of making unwanted advances against two male cadets who were freshmen at the time.

Munoz allegedly put his hand on the inner portion of one victim's thigh, and when the victim rebuked him, told the younger cadet that "it was OK for guys to touch each other," according to Charleston, South Carolina's WCSC. Munoz allegedly then groped the victim's genitals, telling the victim that "everyone did it" and that "it was more OK for guys to be with guys sexually before marriage than to be with girls, and that God would be less angry at the two guys messing around than a guy and a girl."

The second reported instance took place over four days in February 2011, when Munoz and a different male cadet were preparing for a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference.

"According to that report, as soon as the victim walked into the suspect's room on Citadel campus, he was directed to sit on the bed while the suspect locked the door," reports WCSC. "The victim told police the suspect then walked over to him, grabbed his face with both hands, and leaned in as if he were attempting to kiss him."

The victim alleged that two days later, in a hotel room near CPAC, Munoz leapt on top of the victim and bounced on him "in a homosexual manner."

According to HuffPost, neither of the victims are pursuing charges, and did not report the misconduct when it occurs because of Munoz's perceived position of authority.

Munoz ran the advance team for Santorum's failed presidential campaign, reports Buzzfeed, and received payment from the Romney campaign for event consulting in June and July of this year. According to the Romney campaign, Munoz "was never an employee of the campaign," but "did a few ad hoc projects for us on a per diem basis," reports Buzzfeed.

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Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.
Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.