Members of Congress Will Now Have to Personally Pay to Settle Sexual Misconduct Claims

Members of Congress will have to pay out of pocket to settle sexual misconduct claims under legislation that Congress passed this week.

Lawmakers could previously use public funds to settle the claims.

The House of Representatives and the Senate approved the bipartisan measure on a voice vote on Dec. 13.

“Time is finally up for members of Congress who think that they can sexually harass and get away with it. They will no longer be able to slink away with no one knowing that they have harassed. … They will pay back the U.S. Treasury,” one of the House co-sponsors, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), told reporters after the vote, reported Reuters.

“We want to thank 1,500 former staff members of Congress who wrote a letter to us who made the case all too clear, that sexual harassment in Congress was a huge problem,” she added.

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who led the Senate legislation, said in a statement: “Today, the House and Senate came together to end a broken process that failed victims for far too long.”

“This bipartisan, bicameral agreement will protect the rights of victims and ensure perpetrators are held accountable for conduct unacceptable in the Congress or any workplace,” he added.

According to a report from the Office of Compliance, more than $17 million was paid out in settlements between 1997 and 2017.

The money was paid out in over 250 settlements, the office said.

The legislation mandates a $300,000 cap on liability for each lawmaker if a court has assessed the damages and no limit on liability for settlements.

Congress must also regularly report and publish settlements in the future, a stark departure from the past when such settlements were kept secret.

Al Franken

Al Franken
Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 12, 2017. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP File Photo)


Lawmakers Resign Over Allegations
In the past year alone, a number of lawmakers have left office following sexual misconduct allegations, including Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas).

Farenthold used $84,000 in public funds to settle a sexual harassment settlement, according to Politico. He resigned earlier this year.

Lauren Greene, Farenthold’s former communications director, sued her boss in December 2014 over allegations of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and creating a hostile work environment, saying when she complained about comments he made to her, the congressman fired her.

Farenthold said he wants to repay the taxpayer funds.

john conyersjohn conyers
U.S. Representative John Conyers (D-MI) participates in a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on July 12, 2016. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)


Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) resigned late last year after word of a secret settlement of more than $27,000 to a staffer who said he made sexual advances toward her emerged.

After the story broke, six other women said Conyers sexually harassed them or made inappropriate remarks.

Conyers’ attorney said the former lawmaker would not repay the taxpayer funds. Arnold Reed told HLN that Conyers wouldn’t pay the funds back because the payment was cleared by lawyers.

“Because the ethics committee is conducting an investigation and has not been determined that A, that was taxpayer money and B, they cleared any settlement that the congressman entered into, as I told you, several days ago,” he said.

From NTD News

www.theepochtimes.com/members-of-congress-will-now-have-to-personal...

Views: 112

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

And the number of candidates have dwindled. 

RSS

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted blog posts
20 hours ago
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"cheeki kea I was wrong Emperor Penguins are big and powerful but still alive but this,  A size…"
23 hours ago
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"Cheeki kea here's another that they say there have been modern sightings of!  The name of…"
23 hours ago
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"cheeki kea, did you ever hear of the giant Imperial Penguins? They were about 6 feet tall and could…"
23 hours ago
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"cheeki kea I do not think these giant two legged birds would need to have a bad attitude as long as…"
23 hours ago
Olivia Brooks updated their profile
yesterday
John Miller was featured
yesterday
tjdavis's 2 blog posts were featured
yesterday
Zfort Group's blog post was featured
yesterday
Doc Vega's 6 blog posts were featured
yesterday
Burbia commented on tjdavis's video
Thumbnail

“What’s His Motive?” - Inside The Mind of George Soros

"Trump calls for George Soros and son to face federal…"
yesterday
Burbia commented on tjdavis's photo
yesterday
Profile IconSeeta Sathe and Olivia Brooks joined 12160 Social Network
yesterday
tjdavis posted a video

Mossad, Terrifying CIA Technology, Blackwater & The Most Secret CIA Unit | John Kiriakou

John Kiriakou served 15 years in the CIA as a Case Officer (Spy) and as CIA's Head of Counterterrorism Operations in Pakistan where he lead the raid that cap...
yesterday
tjdavis posted a photo
yesterday
tjdavis posted a video

A Critique of the Tavistock Institute - The Mother Of All Conspiracy Theories

An examination of the Tavistock Institute, a theory which seeks to explain how Western societies have been brainwashed by a cabal of social scientists and th...
Sunday
tjdavis posted a video

“What’s His Motive?” - Inside The Mind of George Soros

In this short clip, Patrick Bet-David, Sebastian Gorka Adam Sosnick, and Tom Ellsworth George Soros and what motivates him to do the things he does. FaceTime...
Aug 27
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Aug 27
cheeki kea favorited Bob of the Family Renner's photo
Aug 26
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"If you're ever out there Doc V and notice giant two legged birds roaming the wilderness be…"
Aug 26

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted