Congressional Sexual Harassment Settlements in Spotlight as Pressure to Lift Veil of Secrecy Grows

The number of lawmakers accused of sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct continues to grow, but those who have used taxpayer funds to settle claims in the past remain behind a veil of secrecy.

Now, calls for members who have settled sexual harassment or similar claims to be named is also growing, with lawmakers and government transparency advocates saying Americans have a right to know who has used taxpayer dollars for what is — for all intents and purposes — a slush fund for hush payments.

Tom Fitton, president of the government transparency advocate,  Judicial Watch, said Congress has also made it difficult to get information from OOC because the office does not have to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which allow citizens and journalists to request information about the federal government and make it public.

“The fact is, we don’t know what goes on on Capitol Hill because members of Congress want it that way and the only way that’s going to change in when the American people react,” Fitton said in a video JW posted on YouTube.