Following reports of Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) using tax dollars to settle sexual harassment claims, Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is crafting legislation that would unseal all sex settlement records and ban the use of tax dollars to pay the claims.
“Settlements paid with tax dollars should not be kept secret. Members of Congress cannot be allowed to use the American people’s money as a personal slushfund to cover wrongdoing. I’m working on legislation to unseal settlement records, bar use of tax dollars to pay claims against members & staff, prohibit members from using office budgets to camouflage payments (a Conyers rule) & require reimbursement of the taxpayer,” tweeted DeSantis on Wednesday.
I’m working on legislation to unseal settlement records, bar use of tax dollars to pay claims against members & staff, prohibit members from using office budgets to camouflage payments (a Conyers rule) & require reimbursement of the taxpayer.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 22, 2017
Settlements paid with tax dollars should not be kept secret. Members of Congress cannot be allowed to use the American people's money as a personal slushfund to cover wrongdoing.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 22, 2017
On Tuesday, President Trump called for the names of lawmakers who have settled sexual harassment lawsuits to be made public.
“President Trump tells me he believe Congress should release the names of lawmakers who have settled sexual harassment claims,” tweeted OANN’s Trey Yingst.
NEW: President Trump tells me he believe Congress should release the names of lawmakers who have settled sexual harassment claims
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) November 21, 2017
Last week, the Congressional Office of Compliance published a year-by-year breakdown of sexual harassment settlements. The identities of the settlers were not made public.
DeSantis’ effort to craft the bill comes after a bombshell report about Rep. John Conyers settling a sexual harassment lawsuit in 2015. Conyers allegedly flew women into Washington, D.C. for sex.
