Arnie Schawrzenegger

[DBAHO]

ARNOLD Schwarzenegger has admitted taking a course in steering clear of sexual harassment claims.

 

The actor-politician's campaign for governor of California was almost sunk by claims he had groped and molested 16 women.

 

On taking office in October, he dropped his pledge to investigate the claims.

 

Now he has revealed he took the course, designed to teach state employees how to avoid abuse claims.

 

It was run by a US deputy attorney-general, who is an expert in employment and discrimination law, and concentrated on "eliminating uncertainties about sexual remarks and behaviour in the workplace".

 

Schwarzenegger said he also insisted his senior staff take lessons with him.

 

"We all went through it," he said of the January 27 course.

 

The Governor has now decided staff will take the course every two years.

 

The 56-year-old star of the Terminator movies suffered a barrage of negative publicity after 16 women alleged improper behaviour.

 

The claims, 15 of which were reported by The Los Angeles Times, ranged from grabbing a woman's breast in a Venice Beach gym in 1975 to spanking a woman several times in a Los Angeles sound studio 15 years later.

 

Schwarzenegger gave various responses to the accusations, including a general apology to anyone he may have offended, confessing that he had "behaved badly" toward women in the past.

 

After his election victory, he said he would hire a private investigator to examine the sex claims.

 

But he then changed his mind, saying it would provide ammunition for his political opponents.

 

Some of his accusers have since questioned whether their disclosures were worth the public scrutiny they endured.

 

Women's rights advocates said yesterday that they were pleased the Governor had educated himself about sexual harassment.

 

"It was particularly important for this governor to take the class," said Helen Griego of the National Organisation for Women.

[FlaSoxxJim]

'Sex pest'... I think that's what my wife calls me when she doesn't want to do it.