New data released on harassment, sex discrimination claim settlements

The Treasury Department paid about $174,000 over five years to settle claims that included allegations of sexual harassment or sex discrimination in House member offices, including an $85,000 settlement in a claim against former congressman Eric Massa, The Washington Post confirmed Tuesday.

The payment was one of 15 settlements involving House offices between 2008 and 2012, according to data released Tuesday by a House committee. The data omitted details of the cases, but it was the latest attempt by the House to be transparent in reporting how frequently claims involve accusations of sexual harass mentor sex discrimination.

The claims involved a total taxpayer cost of $342,225, with about $174,000 pinned to specific harassment or discrimination claims.

The Treasury payments, however, offer only a partial accounting of money used to deal with sexual harassment allegations. Some House members have used office funds to pay “severance” packages to employees in an effort to resolve potential or existing work place claims.

Democrats and DACA

Democrats are backing away from a pledge to force a vote this month over the fate of thousands of undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children, likely averting the threat of a government shutdown.

Petitions.WhiteHouse.Gov

The White House says it has taken down a popular online tool that allowed citizens to create online petitions as part of a maintenance effort.