Rep. Farenthold backpedals on pledge to repay sexual harassment settlement

[DonViejo]

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]

1. Lock Him Up... nt.

[Ohiogal]

3. Amen!

[ybbor]

5. He'd look good in the pokey in his "jammies" ...nt.

[rurallib]

6. yep - if he can't pay his bills - LOCK HIM UP!

it's the American way.

[dewsgirl]

2. He's a gross pig.

[Judi Lynn]

4. The gov't should arrange a repayment schedule for him. He should pay or go to prison. n/t

[walkingman]

7. Typical Texas Republican. How in God's green earth was this moron elected??

[atreides1]

8. How was he elected?

Because his fellow morons in Texas voted for him!!!

[ProudMNDemocrat]

9. AL Franken was forced out of the Senate for less crassness than Farenthold.......

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. Democrats should submit a bill for vote called the Farenthold Bill.

This bill would prohibit the use of taxpayer funds to pay sexual harassment settlements.

[jmowreader]

12. Call it "Blake's Law"

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]

11. And Al Franken was forced to resign. There is something dreadfully wrong here.

[Paladin]

13. It's not as if the piggy little bastard can't afford to pay it back.

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.

[yellowcanine]

14. He could raise some money by selling the ducky pjs on ebay.....