Ethics panel reprimands Freedom Caucus chairman over handling of harassment allegations
The House Ethics Committee on Friday formally reprimanded Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) for failing to adequately address sexual harassment allegations made against his former chief of staff and failing to protect the women who worked in his office from additional harassment and retaliation.
The GOP-led Ethics panel also ordered Meadows to repay taxpayers more than $40,000, the portion of the salary that Meadows continued to pay his top aide after the harassment was first reported.
“Representative Meadows’ failure to take prompt and decisive action to deal with the alleged sexual harassment in his congressional office was troubling to the Committee,” the Ethics report on Meadows says. “The Committee found Representative Meadows violated House rules by failing to take appropriate steps to ensure that his House office was free from discrimination and any perception of discrimination.”
The Ethics panel also formally reprimanded Rep. Ruben Kihuen (D-Nev.) for making “persistent and unwanted advances towards women who were required to interact with him as part of their professional responsibilities.” After those sexual harassment allegations became public last year, Kihuen decided not to run for reelection. His term ends in early January.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/417175-ethics-panel-reprimands-freedom-caucus-chairman-over-handling-of-harassment
