While all the media is focused on Mike Flynn and that mess, word is out that supposedly there is another settlement out of the congressional fund used by some for ending sexual harassment claims which has been uncovered. The congressman this time is Blake Farenthold, a Texas Republican. Supposedly, he had the fund pay over $80,000 to his former spokesperson Lauren Greene to settle claims of wrongful firing and sexual harassment four years ago.
There doesn't seem to be much to the story, however, for a number of reasons.
1. We aren't sure if Farenthold is actually the congressman involved, although it seems like that. There was a claim made against Farenthold some years back, but we can't be sure if the settlement came from the fund.
2. The complaint brought by the spokesperson doesn't accuse Farenthold of actual harassment. In fact, the complaint claims that the plaintiff complained that Farenthold avoided meeting alone with her. It's hard to twist something into sexual harassment when the supposed perpetrator didn't want to meet alone with the victim.
3. In essence, the complaint comes down to the spokesperson complaining to Farenthold about another staffer, after which she was fired about a month later. That may not be wonderful conduct if true, but it is hardly sexual harassment.
4. There are things in the complain that the plaintiff attributes to Farenthold, but none of them were said to her. She also says that Farenthold drinks too much, but again, that's not sexual harassment.
5. The House Ethics Committee investigated the claim after it was brought and concluded as follows: "there is not substantial reason to believe that Representative Farenthold sexually harassed or discriminated against [ex-staffer Lauren Greene], or engaged in an effort to intimidate, take reprisal against, or discriminate against [Greene] for opposing such treatment, in violation of House rules and federal law."
There doesn't seem to be much to the story, however, for a number of reasons.
1. We aren't sure if Farenthold is actually the congressman involved, although it seems like that. There was a claim made against Farenthold some years back, but we can't be sure if the settlement came from the fund.
2. The complaint brought by the spokesperson doesn't accuse Farenthold of actual harassment. In fact, the complaint claims that the plaintiff complained that Farenthold avoided meeting alone with her. It's hard to twist something into sexual harassment when the supposed perpetrator didn't want to meet alone with the victim.
3. In essence, the complaint comes down to the spokesperson complaining to Farenthold about another staffer, after which she was fired about a month later. That may not be wonderful conduct if true, but it is hardly sexual harassment.
4. There are things in the complain that the plaintiff attributes to Farenthold, but none of them were said to her. She also says that Farenthold drinks too much, but again, that's not sexual harassment.
5. The House Ethics Committee investigated the claim after it was brought and concluded as follows: "there is not substantial reason to believe that Representative Farenthold sexually harassed or discriminated against [ex-staffer Lauren Greene], or engaged in an effort to intimidate, take reprisal against, or discriminate against [Greene] for opposing such treatment, in violation of House rules and federal law."
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