Imagine showing up to work at a state government office and hearing your elected boss joke about starting "Topless Tuesdays." Now imagine that same boss getting hold of your personal cell phone number, calling you at home, and making a thinly veiled threat about finding out where you live and taking pictures of your kids sleeping in their beds.
That is not a script from a bad political drama. It is the reality outlined in a damning independent investigation into Montana Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar.
In a move unprecedented in Montana history, Governor Greg Gianforte suspended Molnar for one year without pay. The suspension follows months of workplace strife, shocking allegations of sexual harassment, and a aggressive campaign of retaliation that turned a public utility regulatory office into a hostile work environment.
While Molnar and his legal team cry political conspiracy, the documented evidence paints a far more disturbing picture. This is not just a story about a politician making crude jokes. It is a masterclass in how institutional power can be weaponized against everyday workers, and why the state finally had to step in.
The Hostile Workplace Behind the "Topless Tuesdays" Quote
Most headlines have focused heavily on the "Topless Tuesdays" comment because, frankly, it grabs attention. But focusing only on that crude remark misses the systemic harassment and intimidation that staff members endured daily.
The trouble started almost immediately after Molnar assumed his four-year post in early 2025. According to an external, independent investigation, the Public Service Commission (PSC) staff quickly found themselves dealing with an official who ignored basic professional boundaries.
The investigation, which eventually cost Montana taxpayers over $65,000 due to Molnar's obstruction, substantiated multiple severe violations:
- Unwelcome Sex-Based Remarks: Molnar repeatedly made inappropriate sexual comments. In one instance, he openly suggested to staff that a female employee was having dreams about a male commissioner.
- Intimidation Tactics: After learning a female staff member’s personal phone number, Molnar called her directly. He didn't just ask about work. He pointedly noted that since he had her number, he could find out where she lived and "get pictures of her kids sleeping in their beds."
- Hostile Language: He regularly used demeaning and disparaging language toward agency staff, completely destroying workplace morale.
These weren't isolated slip-ups. Staff members were so unnerved by his behavior that they resorted to altering their daily work schedules and shifting office locations just to avoid being alone in a room with him.
Retaliation as a Weapon
When employees bravely stepped forward to report the behavior, Molnar didn't back down or apologize. Instead, he escalated.
The independent report found that Molnar spent months conducting a retaliatory campaign against the very people who blew the whistle. He threatened to personally pursue and "take out" the individuals who complained. He used his authority to make their professional lives miserable, creating an environment so toxic that multiple staff members simply quit.
Montana PSC Vice President Jennifer Fielder did not mince words during a public meeting, stating that Molnar had put colleagues "through hell" because they dared to complain.
"The damage that you have done with your conduct is undeniable," Fielder said during a commission vote to adopt the misconduct report.
In May 2026, the PSC took the extraordinary step of banning Molnar from working in person at the Helena office to protect staff from ongoing harassment. Molnar fought this in federal court, claiming the ban violated his First Amendment rights and was a ploy to keep him away from key regulatory hearings.
Federal Judge Donald Molloy flatly rejected that argument. While acknowledging that elected officials have free speech rights on matters of public concern, Judge Molloy wrote that "private harassment of coworkers is not speech" protected by the Constitution. The judge upheld the ban, keeping Molnar away from the building to prevent further intimidation.
The Political Smoke Screen
Molnar’s defense strategy is a familiar one. He claims the entire investigation is a "star chamber" process rigged by political enemies.
His attorney, Matthew Monforton, argues that the suspension is a "kangaroo process" designed to overturn an election. They point to an upcoming $15.4 billion utility merger between NorthWestern Energy and Black Hills Corp. Molnar has been a vocal skeptic of the deal, and his legal team argues that the governor is using an HR complaint to remove an obstacle to corporate interests.
It is a convenient narrative. But it completely crumbles under legal scrutiny.
Judge Molloy explicitly found that while the utility merger and the misconduct investigation happened at the same time, they were entirely independent of each other. The evidence of personal threats, late-night phone calls, and targeted retaliation has nothing to do with energy policy or corporate mergers. It has everything to do with basic human decency and workplace safety.
Why Gianforte’s Unprecedented Move Matters
Governor Greg Gianforte's decision to suspend an elected commissioner is legally and politically risky. In his suspension letter, Gianforte admitted the action is "unprecedented in state history."
Typically, an elected official cannot be easily fired by a governor. However, Montana law allows the governor to suspend a commissioner for "good cause." While state statute doesn't explicitly define "good cause" for this specific office, Gianforte leaned on standard employment law:
- Failure to perform duties safely
- Severe disruption of agency operations
- Repeated, willful violation of established workplace policies
Gianforte noted that in any normal job, Molnar’s behavior would have resulted in immediate termination. Because Molnar showed zero remorse and refused to cooperate with investigators or participate in remedial training, a one-year suspension without pay was the only viable tool left to protect the state's employees.
The suspension is a clear signal that being elected does not grant you immunity from basic labor laws or shield you from the consequences of terrorizing your staff.
What Happens Next
This fight is far from over. Here is what to expect in the coming weeks:
- A Brutal Court Battle: Molnar’s attorney has already announced plans to fight the suspension in court. Expect a protracted legal battle over the limits of gubernatorial power and executive suspension authority.
- A Vacant Seat: The Governor's Office is currently evaluating the process to appoint a temporary replacement to the Public Service Commission so the regulatory body can continue its work without disruption.
- A Shift in PSC Culture: With Molnar barred from the building and suspended from his duties, the agency's primary goal is rebuilding staff morale and establishing a safe, functional environment for the public servants who keep the state running.
Politicians often try to turn their personal failings into grand conspiracies. But at the end of the day, the folks working at the Montana Public Service Commission deserve to do their jobs without worrying about who is tracking down their home addresses or making inappropriate comments about their families.
