Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) are calling on Congress to reveal the names of current and former lawmakers who have used taxpayer money to settle sexual harassment claims.
Massie shared on X (formerly Twitter):
“Congress has secretly spent over $17 million of taxpayer money to settle harassment claims, including sexual harassment. Don’t you think the names of these lawmakers should be made public? I do.”
Greene supported Massie’s demand, saying:
“Yes, I want the ‘sexual slush fund’ list released. Taxpayers should not have paid for this or other unnecessary expenses.”
Secret Payments Since 1997
Since 1997, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights has spent over $17 million of public funds to resolve nearly 300 workplace disputes, including cases of sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
- The office doesn’t reveal who received settlements or how much was paid for specific claims like sexual harassment.
- Some settlements involve workers outside of Congress, such as employees of the Library of Congress and Capitol Police.
Notably, lawmakers who settled claims outside this office, like the late Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), would not appear on the secret list.
Former Lawmakers Support Transparency
Two former Republican lawmakers also supported releasing the names:
- Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) said, “Taxpayer money should never secretly bail out harassers. Supervisors guilty of harassment should pay the bill themselves.”
- Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) added, “Taxpayers deserve to know.”
Matt Gaetz Joins the Conversation
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who recently faced allegations of misconduct himself, hinted at briefly returning to Congress in 2025 to expose the list. He outlined a five-step plan on X:
- Attend the Speaker election on January 3, 2025.
- Take the oath of office.
- File a motion to make the settlement list public.
- Resign.
- Start a new TV program that same week.
Some Republican lawmakers are already working on a draft resolution to release the list. The debate continues as many demand transparency about how taxpayer money has been used.
