Taxpayers Funded a $220K Sexual Harassment Settlement Involving Dem Rep. Alcee Hastings

It appears yet another elected official on Capitol Hill has been exposed for inappropriate behavior.

Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings of Florida reportedly settled a sexual harassment case back in 2014. His accuser was rewarded $220,000 from the Treasury Department. In other words, it was funded by taxpayers.

Winsome Packer, a former staffer from a congressional commission that Hastings headed at the time, alleged in the lawsuit that the congressman “touched her, made unwanted sexual advances, and threatened her job.” As Roll Call reports, he was the chairman of  the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Hastings denied the charges, calling them “ludicrous” and even denied knowing about the settlement itself.

“Until this evening, I had not seen the settlement agreement between the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) and Ms. Packer,” Hastings said in a statement Friday night. “This matter was handled solely by the Senate Chief Counsel for Employment. At no time was I consulted, nor did I know until after the fact that such a settlement was made.”

He added that he was “outraged” that “any taxpayer dollars were needlessly paid to Ms. Packer.”

This comes as several politicians on both sides of the aisle have been accused for sexual harassment. This week, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) have announced their resignations after several women have accused them of sexual misconduct. Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) had also resigned after he reportedly asked female subordinates to be surrogates. Congressmen Ruben Kihuen (D-NV) and Blake Farenthold (R-TX) face allegations of inappropirate behavior. And GOP Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore has been accused by multiple women of harassment and child molestation.

[image via screengrab]