An Amazon worker claimed she was raped by a senior govt during a enterprise journey to New York City — and that the firm informed her to preserve quiet about it as it uncared for to carry out a full investigation of the allegations, according to an explosive lawsuit.

Laura Danbom, who works at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters as a advertising and operations supervisor for Amazon Web Services, sued the e-commerce large this week for allegedly subjecting her to a hostile work setting and for violating Washington State’s Silenced No More Act, which protects victims who communicate up about office assaults from retaliation.

Amazon govt Laura Danbom, seen in a photograph from her grievance, claims senior govt Michelangelo Simonte raped her on a enterprise journey. King County Superior Court Clerk

The alleged rape took place on Oct. 27, 2023 when Danbom traveled to New York with a group of colleagues including Michelangelo Simonte, a top-performing promoting govt in her division who was primarily based in Madrid, according to the grievance filed Tuesday.

That night, the group attended an Amazon-hosted open bar occasion and continued the gathering at karaoke bars – all paid for by Amazon, according to the go well with filed in state court docket in Seattle.  

Early in the night, Danbom and Simonte, who continues to work for Amazon at its Madrid workplaces, “flirted,” “joked” and “got along,” according to the grievance. At the finish of the night time, Simonte “kissed her,” and “persuaded Laura” to let him accompany her to her resort room, the grievance said.

Danborn was staying at the Hyatt Place at 140 W. twenty fourth St. in Manhattan’s stylish Chelsea neighborhood, according to a consultant for the plaintiff. It was there that issues took a mistaken flip, the go well with said.

“In Laura’s hotel room, during the early morning hours, Simonte raped her,” the grievance alleged. “Before the rape started, she said no. During the rape, Laura asked him: ‘you realize this is,’ and Simonte finished her sentence saying ‘rape? Yes.’ He ignored her protests. He raped her.”

The next day, she reported the incident to the New York Police Department, handing the officers a condom Simonte had left behind and submitting to a rape package, according to the grievance.

During a telephone call between Danbom and Simonte that a detective monitored for a potential confession, Simonte said he was “200% sure” that they never had sexual activity, according to the grievance.

Amazon was accused of asking ” inappropriate and re-traumatizing questions” about Danbom’s allegations against Simonte, seen in a photograph from her grievance. King County Superior Court Clerk

Later, he contradicted himself in a police interview, saying he was too drunk to bear in mind, according to the grievance.

Simonte did not instantly reply to a request for remark despatched via LinkedIn.

The NYPD declined to refer the case to native prosecutors, said Danbom’s lawyer Jay Free, including that police said they had exhausted all investigative avenues. The grievance alleges that cops failed to interview the witnesses Danbom reported the rape to instantly after it occurred, including another Amazon worker. The Post has sought remark from the NYPD.

Two days after the alleged incident, Danbom knowledgeable Amazon’s human sources division. She also informed a quantity of mates and her therapist about her expertise, according the go well with.

Amazon investigated the allegations, placing Simonte on a monthslong depart of absence, Danbom informed The Post, but finally determined that he did not violate its coverage.

Amazon claimed Danbom’s account of what occurred was “unfounded due to lack of evidence,” and amounted to a “he said, she said” state of affairs, according to the submitting.

Danbom alleges that Amazon closed its investigation with out talking with witnesses who could corroborate her account and “without gathering evidence that was there for the asking,” according to the grievance.

Laura Danbom submitted to a rape package in New York City. King County Superior Court Clerk

It also claimed that during Amazon’s investigation, the firm “asked inappropriate and re-traumatizing questions that suggested Laura did not do enough to stop the attack, including challenging Laura on whether she yelled ‘no,’” according to the grievance.

“Before the rape began, she said no. No means no,” the go well with added. “This is shameful questioning by a leading employer in 2024.”

The firm said it would reopen the case if New York prosecutors introduced costs against Simonte, according to the go well with. In addition, the firm instructed Danbom “not to speak about Simonte’s rape at work saying the allegation was ‘highly confidential,’” according to the submitting.

“It prevented me from warning other women who might interact with him at events,” Danbom informed The Post.

Danbom was informed that her position would not change at Amazon and that she would be required to “work with Simonte directly, by phone, by email and in remote meetings,” according to the submitting.

Laura Danbom with members of her household, seen in a photograph from her grievance. King County Superior Court Clerk

“We take any allegation of this nature extremely seriously, and we have zero tolerance for workplace sexual misconduct or violence of any kind. We thoroughly investigate each report we receive and take appropriate action, up to and including termination, against those who are found to have violated our policies,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a assertion.

“We have robust policies and trained investigators in place to ensure each concern is heard and addressed with the proper care. While we don’t have more to share about the specifics of this pending litigation at this time, we continue to follow our rigorous processes and to hold all employees to the same high standards.”

Danbom informed The Post she took two leaves of absence following the incident. After 10 job functions within Amazon, she was transferred in 2024 to a totally different place where she would not work together with Simonte, she said.

“It was really an escape,” she informed The Post. “The position was a lateral move. I was on a path for a promotion and had to walk away from that.”

The grievance is searching for “lost wages, including front and backpay, lost bonuses and other benefits of employment, in an amount to be proven at trial.”