A former George Mason University law professor, Joshua Wright, must continue to face the school’s investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, as ruled by a federal judge. Wright, once a high-ranking U.S. Federal Trade Commission member, resigned from his teaching role in 2023 after multiple accusations surfaced.
In a decision by Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles from the U.S. District Court in Virginia, the judge allowed the university’s investigation to proceed despite Wright’s attempts to halt it. While many of Wright’s claims were dismissed, he was permitted to pursue a narrower First Amendment complaint against the school’s Title IX coordinator, Thomas Bluestein.
Wright’s legal troubles stem from allegations made by Elyse Dorsey, a former student and now a partner at Kirkland & Ellis. Dorsey accused Wright of sexual harassment and assault during an on-again-off-again relationship that spanned over a decade, beginning in 2010. Dorsey claimed that Wright used his power at the university to influence job opportunities after their relationship ended.
Wright countered with his own Title IX complaint in 2022, alleging Dorsey had retaliated against him. However, the university dismissed his claim, concluding that Dorsey was not an employee of the school, a decision Wright has contested as discriminatory.
Despite dismissing most of Wright’s claims, the judge allowed the case to move forward regarding his allegation that Bluestein violated his First Amendment rights by permitting Dorsey to amend her complaint after Wright had filed a defamation suit against her and another accuser.
Wright, Dorsey, and representatives from the university did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Dorsey, for her part, emphasized the importance of the ruling, stating that it safeguards survivors from retaliatory lawsuits.
