Holy fruitcake, Batman! This Time account, published the day I left for a Thanksgiving holiday, is as out of date as last week's stock tables. At home early this morning I see a whole new rack of curiosities and horribles:
Congressman Slept With And Then Sued Allegedly Drug-Addicted Staffer
How a House Dem accused of drunken shenanigans revealed another secret ‘hush fund’
(This Grijalya case is similar to Conyers' ghost employee arrangement, which is likewise illegal.)
Gutiérrez won't seek reelection
This is striking because Gutiérrez announced "he's withdrawing the nominating petitions he just filed on Monday." A different report later explained he's "retiring from Congress to help Puerto Rico rebuild." Of course he is.
If, AS MUST BE DONE, the records are completely disclosed of what payments were made through outright payoffs or phony salary scams, I have a hunch other swamp rats will experience similar epiphanies, and pursue philanthropic work outside the media's glare likewise.
Congressman Slept With And Then Sued Allegedly Drug-Addicted Staffer
Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green had sex with a staffer who he said was a drug addict and then sued her when she threatened to go public with claims she suffered a hostile work environment, saying he “will not be extorted or blackmailed.”
Rep. Raul M. Grijalva quietly arranged a “severance package” in 2015 for one of his top staffers who threatened a lawsuit claiming the Arizona Democrat was frequently drunk and created a hostile workplace environment, revealing yet another way that lawmakers can use taxpayer dollars to hide their misbehavior on Capitol Hill.
While the Office of Compliance has been the focus of outrage on Capitol Hill for hush-money payouts in sexual harassment cases, the Grijalva payout points to another office that lawmakers can use to sweep accusations under the rug with taxpayer-funded settlements negotiated by the House Employment Counsel, which acts as the attorney for all House offices.
The employment counsel negotiated a deal for taxpayers to give $48,395 — five additional months’ salary — to the female aide, who left her job after three months. She didn’t pursue the hostile workplace complaint further.
The arrangement appears to run contrary to House rules that constrain severance packages, and it caught the eye of watchdogs who were already demanding answers about payouts in the wake of harassment complaints....
While the Office of Compliance has been the focus of outrage on Capitol Hill for hush-money payouts in sexual harassment cases, the Grijalva payout points to another office that lawmakers can use to sweep accusations under the rug with taxpayer-funded settlements negotiated by the House Employment Counsel, which acts as the attorney for all House offices.
The employment counsel negotiated a deal for taxpayers to give $48,395 — five additional months’ salary — to the female aide, who left her job after three months. She didn’t pursue the hostile workplace complaint further.
The arrangement appears to run contrary to House rules that constrain severance packages, and it caught the eye of watchdogs who were already demanding answers about payouts in the wake of harassment complaints....
Gutiérrez won't seek reelection
Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.), a leading national voice on immigration reform, will not seek reelection, three Democratic sources with knowledge of the decision told POLITICO.
Gutiérrez, who has held his seat since 1993, is expected to announce Tuesday afternoon he's withdrawing the nominating petitions he filed just Monday and will formally endorse Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.
Gutiérrez, who has held his seat since 1993, is expected to announce Tuesday afternoon he's withdrawing the nominating petitions he filed just Monday and will formally endorse Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.
If, AS MUST BE DONE, the records are completely disclosed of what payments were made through outright payoffs or phony salary scams, I have a hunch other swamp rats will experience similar epiphanies, and pursue philanthropic work outside the media's glare likewise.
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