Rep. Farenthold backpedals on pledge to repay sexual harassment settlement
Source: NBC/KXAN-TV
By Wes Rapaport
Published: January 30, 2018, 11:46 am
AUSTIN (KXAN) U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold has backed off his pledge to pay back a taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlement.
The embattled congressman used $84,000 of taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment complaint from a former spokesperson. His former communications director, Lauren Grene, sued him in Dec. 2014 over sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and creating a hostile work environment.
Farenthold apparently used money from the U.S. Congressional Office of Compliance to pay the settlement, prompting calls for his resignation and reimbursement of the settlement, which is currently at the hands of taxpayers.
A member of his communications staff says, on the advice of counsel, Farenthold is waiting to see what changes the House makes to the Congressional Accountability Act before repaying the funds. KXAN contacted the Congressional Office of Compliance to confirm the status of the payment but we have not received a response as of this publication.
Read more: http://kxan.com/2018/01/30/rep-farenthold-backpedals-on-pledge-to-repay-sexual-harassment-settlement/
BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)ybbor
(1,554 posts)rurallib
(62,416 posts)it's the American way.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,542 posts)walkingman
(7,616 posts)atreides1
(16,079 posts)Because his fellow morons in Texas voted for him!!!
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,785 posts)Which angers me to no end that AL Franken was not given the courtesy of a hearing and the questioning of witnesses to the allegations against him. Whereas Blake Farenthold still enjoys the title of Fepresentative, draws a salary, and has not been disciplined by Republican leadership or asked to resign. I am appalled by the hypocrisy aND double standards.
avebury
(10,952 posts)This bill would prohibit the use of taxpayer funds to pay sexual harassment settlements.
jmowreader
(50,557 posts)I normally despise that construction, but every rule has an exception and this is a case of that.
And a much better law would prohibit the use of taxpayer funds or campaign contributions to pay fines or settlements incurred for any reason.
Arkansas Granny
(31,517 posts)Paladin
(28,261 posts)Pajama Boy comes from a wealthy old South Texas land/oil/cattle family. God forbid he should do the proper thing of his own volition.