Investigators pursue Yellowstone park harassment claims

BILLINGS – Government investigators are due in Yellowstone National Park Tuesday to look into an employee’s claims of sexual exploitation of female workers and financial misconduct.

The investigation by the Department of Interior Inspector General’s Office follows reports of widespread sexual misconduct at Grand Canyon, Yosemite and other national parks across the country.

The claims regarding Yellowstone come from an equipment operator named Robert Hester.

Hester submitted a statement to the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee saying sexual exploitation of female employees was rife in the Yellowstone’s special projects division. He also alleged the misuse of government credit cards.

Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk said Monday that the investigation would focus initially on the special projects division and expand as needed.

Wenk says no one else has stepped forward with claims similar to Hester’s.