Mary Peltola is facing pressure to address allegations about her treatment of staff after a New York Times investigation detailed accounts from former aides describing angry outbursts, offensive slurs, and an alleged physical confrontation during her time in Congress.

The report, published Wednesday, was based on interviews with nine former staff members and additional people familiar with Peltola's political operation, along with text messages and other material reviewed by the newspaper. Former aides described what they characterized as a pattern of volatile behavior and high turnover surrounding Peltola's congressional office and campaign.

One former staff member alleged that Peltola pushed an aide in the chest during a February 2024 confrontation over a missing memo. The campaign disputed that account, saying Peltola accidentally bumped the aide while dealing with the emotional aftermath of her husband's death.

Other allegations involve language Peltola allegedly used around staff and in private communications. Former aides told the Times that she had used a homophobic slur, while another message reportedly included a slur referring to people with intellectual disabilities. Peltola's campaign has denied that she had a pattern of abusive behavior and said she regrets the latter comment.

The report also examined an incident involving a water bottle that Peltola allegedly pushed toward a staff member's face while preparing for questions from reporters. The campaign and other staffers disputed the characterization of the exchange, describing it as playful rather than threatening.

Peltola's campaign has pointed to the personal losses she experienced in 2023, when she lost both her mother and her husband within several months. Her spokesman said she was raising children through their grief while continuing to serve in Congress and acknowledged that she sometimes struggled during that period.

The allegations have now become a political issue as Peltola campaigns for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Alaska. Senate Leadership Fund Executive Director Alex Latcham called on Peltola to publicly apologize to former staff members and Alaska voters, arguing that the reported conduct raises questions about her suitability for the Senate.

Peltola has not publicly addressed reporters about the allegations. Her campaign has disputed multiple accounts in the Times report, while some former employees have also defended her, including former finance director Paul Horner, who described Peltola as one of the finest people he had worked for.