Warning: This article contains descriptive sexual language and may be triggering for some people.
Newsroom reports four women have reportedly accused outgoing National MP Jami-Lee Ross of being a narcissist who used "brutal sex" to "dig dirt" on others.
The explosive - but unproven - allegations were revealed on Thursday morning, the day after Mr Ross released a recording he claims proves National leader Simon Bridges broke the law.
National deputy leader Paula Bennett earlier this week alluded to Mr Ross' "inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament", but admitted no MPs had made complaints.
- No harassment complaints against Jami-Lee Ross - Paula Bennett
- Watch Jami-Lee Ross' bombshell statement on Simon Bridges in full
- Simon Bridges vs Jami-Lee Ross: What the hell just happened?
Newsroom claims to have been investigating Mr Ross' behaviour "over the past year".
One woman told the site she was "targeted in a systematic and calculated way", and their affair soon evolved into "jealous rages", "brutal and misogynistic sex" and "a living hell".
"There were multiple times I tried to leave only to be hoovered back in through fear," the unnamed woman told Newsroom. "The fear of him ruining my reputation, but mainly the fear of the unknown."
She said his motivation was a "lust for power and control" - echoing comments Mr Ross made about Mr Bridges. The affair allegedly ended just as the #MeToo wave came, late last year.
A second women said Mr Ross used her to "dig dirt" on his National Party colleagues.
"It's a mind f**k... and it was easy to be swept away. I was sucked in and swept sideways despite my better judgment. It's not like he's drop-dead gorgeous and has a hot body or anything."
He allegedly told her to sleep with other men in Parliament, including MPs, Newsroom reports.
A third woman, reportedly a National Party member, said she has never been "more harassed and disrespected as a woman in my whole life" after dealing with Mr Ross.
She said she stayed quiet "out of respect for the party", but had to talk after Mr Ross' denials of wrongdoing in his hour-long press conference on Tuesday.
"This man is a narcissist. He absolutely turns on people when he doesn't get his own way. He is a master manipulator and a deceitful liar who has no problem looking somebody in the eye and outright lying."
The fourth woman says Mr Ross "destroyed" her as a person, and she had to seek help for the stress and anxiety he allegedly caused.
"I lost my self-esteem... I lost everything."
Mr Ross did not respond to Newsroom's request for a response. Newshub has contacted Mr Ross.
Earlier this week he said Mr Bridges and Ms Bennett had accused him of harassing four women - the exact number quoted in the Newsroom article. Mr Bridges allegedly told him that number could be increased to 15.
On Tuesday, Ms Bennett told NZME the leadership team raised issues with Ross - but it wasn't about harassment.
"At no point was the matter of sexual harassment ever put to Jami-Lee Ross," Bennett told NZME. "What was put to him was inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament."
Newshub.
