AGMA Files Union Disciplinary Charges Against Plácido Domingo
By Francisco SalazarThe American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) has announced that formal union disciplinary charges have been filed against Plácido Domingo.
The charges were filed three days after the Union confirmed its investigation had concluded and found the opera singer guilty of sexual harassment.
In a statement President of AGMA, Ray Menard noted, “AGMA stands with the brave individuals who came forward and fought against the crisis of sexual harassment that greatly pervades our industries. Given the seriousness of the confirmed allegations, and the number of members who have been affected, I believe the right, and only thing to do at this stage is to begin formal disciplinary procedures by filing charges against Mr. Domingo.”
In a a press release the union stressed that AGMA’s leadership could not impose any penalties without following the applicable disciplinary procedures. Domingo will be allowed due process and given an opportunity to respond to the charges against him before a hearing panel. According to the press release, charges could result in a wide range of discipline, from fines, suspension, and censure or expulsion.
AGMA also noted that it will not be commenting further on the disciplinary proceedings until final resolution of the matter.
The statement comes a few hours after Samuel Schultz resigned from the board after leaking information about an alleged settlement between Domingo and AGMA.
In a statement to NPR AGMA’s attorney Susan Davis said “We would now have a structural solution to a structural problem. Instead, by blowing this up, what we have been left with is no choice but to proceed to a disciplinary hearing where witnesses may or may not appear, where even if there is a fine imposed, it’s unclear whether Domingo would consensually pay it. It is unclear whether he’s even going to show up in a hearing. And we now have had what I think was an extraordinary solution to an extraordinarily big problem by a big harasser. We’re now left with a path of uncertainty because this has been blown up by one member of the board who chose to disregard his fiduciary responsibilities.”
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