Washington, DC — June 24, 2011Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton issued the following statement regarding the investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) of sexual harassment and other charges in the lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch on behalf of Winsome Packer, a staffer on a commission headed by Hastings (Packer v. US Comm. On Security & Cooperation in Europe, and Hastings and Turner (No. 11-00485 D.D.C.)):

The OCE is indeed investigating Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL). Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit on behalf of congressional staffer Winsome Packer on March 7, 2011, in which Hastings is accused of repeatedly subjecting Packer to “unwelcome sexual advances,” “unwelcome touching” and retaliation.The alleged harassment and retaliation began in 2008, when Hastings was Chairman of the United States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Commission is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Also named is the Commission’s former staff director, Fred Turner.Judicial Watch confirms that Ms. Packer is cooperating with the Office of Congressional Ethics. She and Judicial Watch met with investigators for several hours in May.

The OCE has 89 days to complete its investigation and to recommend its findings to the House Ethics Committee for action.