The cost of settling sexual harassment cases in the House, 2008–2012: $174,000
This is where taxpayer money goes
Adapted from a story by The Washington Post’s Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Elise Viebeck.
Since October, seven members of the House and the Senate have resigned or announced plans not to run for reelection amid allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct. Some reached settlements, either through the Treasury fund or by providing payments in the form of severance.
The cost of sexual harassment cases in the House
- There were 15 settlements involving House offices between 2008 and 2012, according to data released Tuesday by a House committee.
- Over those five years, the The Treasury Department paid about $174,000 to settle claims that included allegations of sexual harassment or sex discrimination in House member offices.
- The claims involved a total taxpayer cost of $342,225, with about $174,000 pinned to specific harassment or discrimination claims.
The most expensive settlement
Former congressman Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) resigned in March 2010 amid allegations that he had groped and tickled male staff members. His settlement alone was $85,000.
“Rep. Massa denies any incident of sexual harassment or sexual discrimination as a Member of Congress or otherwise individually,” said James D. Doyle, an attorney for Massa.
A quiet system of settlements
The Office of Compliance, which only recently started to disclose data on workplace settlements involving lawmakers, previously disclosed the existence of six settlements out of the Treasury fund between 2013 and this year, totaling $359,450. Only one complaint to the office, which runs a mandatory counseling and mediation process, in the past five years involved a claim of sexual harassment.
However, little is known about settlements involving Senate offices.
On Monday night, the Office of Compliance rejected a request from Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), for records of complaints and settlements that do not violate confidentiality requirements. Kaine had said he would publicly release any data he receives.
Susan Tsui Grundmann, executive director of the Office of Compliance, cited confidentiality requirements that restricted the office’s recordkeeping, and declined to provide the limited information the office does have, saying it “may contain inaccuracies.”
Kaine said Tuesday that he finds the office’s response “very, very puzzling” and “a dodge.”
The office did not respond to The Washington Post’s request for more explanation.
