Sexual Harassment Settlements and Department of Treasury Accounts

Over the weekend we learned that a current member of Congress may have used Department of Treasury funds to settle a sexual harassment claim. Department of Treasury funds are taxpayer dollars and as a taxpayer, I’d like to know how these funds are spent.

I’d like to know the process by which a federal agency or Member of Congress applies to use tax dollars to settle sexual harassment claims. I’d like to know who vets this application. I’d also like to know if the funds in the Department of Treasury account are no-year dollars or does the fund receive an annual appropriation? If so, what is the justification for this appropriation?

I’m asking these questions because this is the second time this year that I’ve learned about tax dollars being used to settle sexual harassment claims. The first case involved Bureau of Prisons guards who were being sexually harassed by inmates. The situation became so toxic that they filed a class action lawsuit against the government which was settled earlier this year for twenty million dollars.

Upon learning of this settlement, I sent a letter to Attorney General Sessions expressing outrage that the warden involved in the case received multiple bonuses (tax dollars) while the case was being litigated.

I’m upset with the warden because one of the individuals who was cited for repeatedly sexually harassing the guards was released and subsequently raped my neighbor. So I asked Attorney General Sessions to share the names of the individuals who approved the bonus.

A copy of the letter I sent to Attorney General Sessions can be found at — https://thehillishome.com/2017/05/denise-krepp-asks-chaffetz-sessions-investigate-undeserved-bonuses-warden-jarvis/

Attorney General Sessions hasn’t responded to my letter but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to stop asking questions.

I’m a taxpayer and I want to know how my tax dollars are being spent. I want to know if these tax dollars are being used to settle sexual harassment claims and lawsuits. I want to know if these tax dollars are being used for bonuses for those who permit toxic environments in which sexual harassment is tolerated.

And I respectfully ask that you too as these questions. After all, the tax dollars aren’t just mine, they belong to everyone and we all deserve some answers.