Over the weekend, the New York Times reported that Representative Pat Meehan—a member of the Ethics Committee who was an original-co-sponsor of Rep. Barbara Comstock’s sexual harassment training legislation—had himself used thousands of tax dollars to secretly settle a sexual harassment lawsuit from a former staffer.
But the scandal didn’t end there. Yesterday, Meehan confirmed the allegations and claimed the former staffer, whom he described as his “soul mate,” “specifically invited” his behavior, which included:
- “Lashing out” in his office when told of the woman’s relationship with her serious boyfriend
- Admitting that he went “hardest on the ones that you care about the most about.”
- Inviting her out to ice cream, where he professed his affection, and then walking her home where he exchanged a hug with her that lasted “maybe longer that night than needed to be.”
- Sending her a letter rife with vows of affection, signing it “With all of my heart, Patrick.”
Yet throughout the entire disturbing affair, Barbara Comstock, who purports to be a leader on this issue, has remained silent.
“Does Representative Comstock think it’s acceptable that Representative Meehan used thousands of taxpayer dollars to secretly settle a sexual harassment lawsuit?” asked DCCC Communications Director Meredith Kelly. “And if not, is she prepared to call on Meehan to resign? These are questions that Comstock needs to answer immediately.”
In fact, Comstock’s record on workplace sexual harassment is spotty, despite her claims to be leading on the sexual harassment issue. Last February, Comstock voted to eliminate safeguards that protected hundreds of thousands of federal contract workers against sexual harassment.
Kelly concluded, “This is more evidence that Barbara Comstock’s posture on sexual harassment looks much different when no one is paying attention than it does when the cameras are on and she can score political points.”