'If I kissed that one, would it lead to more?' Federal housing chief investigated for sexual...
Source: Politico
'If I kissed that one, would it lead to more?' Federal housing chief investigated for sexual harassment
Mortgage regulator taped making suggestive comments to employee.
By VICTORIA GUIDA, KATY O'DONNELL and LORRAINE WOELLERT 07/27/2018 03:12 PM EDT Updated 07/27/2018 03:24 PM EDT
Mel Watt, the powerful regulator of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is under investigation for alleged sexual harassment of an employee.
A Federal Housing Finance Agency staffer accused FHFA Director Watt of repeatedly making inappropriate sexual advances when she tried to discuss career and salary concerns.
The conversations included a 2016 meeting during which Watt steered the discussion to his feelings for the woman, according to documents and partial transcripts of tapes obtained by POLITICO. In a separate encounter, Watt asked about a tattoo on her ankle, saying, “If I kissed that one would it lead to more?"
The employee’s lawyer, Diane Seltzer Torre, confirmed the investigation after POLITICO received copies of the documents related to the case.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/27/federal-housing-chief-sexual-harassment-investigation-714779
Watt, a former Democratic congressman from North Carolina, was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014 to lead the independent agency and is in the final months of his five-year term. He is 72 years old