Taxpayer-Funded Secret Settlements: House Paid $338K to Hide Sexual Harassment Claims

Federal Government Secretly Paid $338K to Settle Sexual Harassment Claims Against House Members

From 2004 to 2017, the U.S. federal government used taxpayer funds to secretly settle sexual harassment claims against six members of the U.S. House of Representatives or their offices, according to newly released documents obtained by Republican Representative Nancy Mace.

The total payout amounted to $338,000, covering settlements for both high-profile and lesser-known cases. In 2018, Congress passed legislation prohibiting the federal government from using public funds to settle such claims.

Public Figures Implicated in the Settlements

Mace’s calculations identified the following House members and their associated payouts:

• Former Democratic Representative Eric Massa: $115,000
• Former Democratic Representative John Conyers: $77,000
• Former Republican Representative Blake Farenthold: $84,000
• Former Republican Representative Patrick Meehan: $39,000
• Late Democratic Representative Carolyn McCarthy’s office: $8,000
• Former Republican Representative Rodney Alexander: $15,000

Massa, Conyers, Farenthold, and Meehan were already publicly associated with misconduct allegations, though the exact settlement amounts had not been disclosed until now.

Lesser-Known Settlements and Lack of Accountability

The $8,000 payout on behalf of the late Democratic Representative Carolyn McCarthy’s office stemmed from accusations against a former staff member. A query from Politico to a former McCarthy aide went unanswered.

The $15,000 settlement for former Republican Representative Rodney Alexander was reportedly related to accusations against one of his staffers at the time.

These revelations come amid heightened scrutiny of congressional misconduct, following recent allegations against former Representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales.

Mace Vows to Release Fully Redacted Records

Mace announced plans to publicly release the documents once personally identifiable information of victims and witnesses is properly redacted. She emphasized that accountability, not retaliation, is the goal.

"Accountability is not a threat. It is a promise."

Ongoing Scrutiny of Congressional Accountability

The disclosures highlight systemic issues in congressional accountability, where taxpayer money has been used to conceal misconduct rather than address it transparently. Critics argue that these secret settlements enable a culture of impunity among lawmakers.