Kaine calls on Senate to publicly release sexual harassment claims

[loyalsister]

I trust that Al Franken did what he thinks is best. Kaine could not have made this move otherwise.

"I plan to publicly disclose this information because I believe it will provide some insight into the scope of the problem and help determine solutions for preventing and addressing future incidents," Kaine wrote.

The Virginia senator argued that the problem will continue to persist in the congressional hallways if information about sexual misconduct continues to be held behind lock and key.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/363754-dem-wants-to-publicly-release-the-number-of-sexual-harassment-claims-filed

[Irish_Dem]

1. Yes. Especially since they use a tax payer slush fund to settle the claims. nt

[loyalsister]

2. Exactly

I assume there has been a thorough internal discussion on whether or not Democrats would be a part of this list. I think this is no accident and could be the exact embrace of me too that we needed.

[Irish_Dem]

4. It is going to cross party lines is my best guess. Power and wealth brings out the dark side.

[58Sunliner]

3. I had a long talk with his reps this morning. I hope others do the same with their senators.

[bathroommonkey76]

5. You left out this part of the article. lol

Does this mean all of the names and info will be redacted?

Kaine added that he will not release information that would "breach any confidentiality agreement between the parties or the identities of the survivors and the accused."

[loyalsister]

7. Is that not a legal requirement?

Should he instead say that he will say I will violate all legally negotiated conditions, and demand all the money be returned?

[bathroommonkey76]

8. I think so

Especially if the money spent for these settlements was from US taxpayers.

[loyalsister]

11. It's a legal requirement to forse a breach of the terms

of an agreement between other people? Really? I think there would be no better way to discourage women from coming forward.

[SHRED]

6. Ha ha ha

As if they will.

[Upthevibe]

9. Good...........N/T

[Denzil_DC]

10. Take your pick, Tim

Complaints against federal employees, not necessarily just senators and congressmen (264 over 20 years, according to WaPo), that resulted in financial settlements:

[loyalsister]

12. He's asking for settlements involving current members

As in people who should have been exposed and resigned rather than having been able to pay off accusers.

[Denzil_DC]

13. That's right. That list goes up to 2017, so it'll include current members.

What it doesn't do is give a breakdown of level in the hierarchy or the nature of the offenses - not all will be sexual harassment, obviously.

It seems there's a lag of around two years before the financial settlement appears on the record, so something(s) big look(s) to have happened in the run-up to 2000 and 2015.

[loyalsister]

14. The article mentioned racial discrimination

It could get very ugly. I'm remembering that the republicans did abandon Trent Lott. It's not entirely impossible.