May 5, 2024
Is it a crime for politicians to pay off people to hide the truth from the public because an election is coming up?
By Jack Hellner
What if Congress spends $17 million to hide sexual harassment and other claims from the public by members and their staff?
That is 130 more times than the $130,000 President Trump paid of his own money for a nuisance lawsuit.
Congress paid out $17 million in settlements. Here’s why we know so little about that money.
Two things have become painfully clear on Capitol Hill this week: Lawmakers and staffers say sexual harassment is “rampant” – but even members of Congress have no idea just how widespread the problem is.
The controversial and sensitive issue has taken center stage in Congress this week, with female lawmakers making fresh allegations of sexual harassment against unnamed members who are currently in office, and the unveiling of a new bill on Wednesday to change how sexual harassment complaints are reported and resolved. On Thursday, a woman shared her story of being groped and kissed without her consent by Sen. Al Franken in 2006.
So far, there’s been little specific data to help illuminate just how pervasive sexual harassment is on Capitol Hill, but one figure has emerged: the total that the Office of Compliance, the office that handles harassment complaints, has paid to victims.
On Thursday, the Office of Compliance released additional information indicating that it has paid victims more than $17 million since its creation in the 1990s. That includes all settlements, not just related to sexual harassment, but also discrimination and other cases.
Congress essentially stole $17 million in taxpayer money that we know of, to hide stuff from the public. Which politicians and staff members were sued? We don't know. Most of the media clearly let this theft and coverup slide because they didn't harass Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and other career politicians to tell them the amounts that were paid and for whose benefit. How many of these politicians and staffers are still on the payroll? How serious were the charges? We don't know.
more
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/05/is_it_a_crime_for_politicians_to_pay_off_people_to_hide_the_truth_from_the_public_because_an_election_is_coming_up.html
