$342G to settle House bias raps

TAXPAYERS PAID more than $342,000 to settle workplace discrimination disputes at House lawmakers’ offices between 2008 and 2012, including nearly $175,000 for eight settlements related to sexual harassment and sex discrimination accusations.

The new statistics were released Tuesday by the House Office of Compliance, a taxpayerfunded office that handles the often-secret payouts to House employees. The information reveals three previously undisclosed settlements for sexual harassment.

One of those payouts, for $85,000, was to settle claims brought against Rep. Eric Massa, (D-N.Y.) who resigned in 2010 amid accusations that he sexually harassed male aides, according to a person with knowledge of the settlement.