Should the List of Sexual Harrassment Claim Settlements for Congress be made public?

Apparently we've been paying for the victims and abuses of our Representatives, without our knowledge. Do we have the right to see whose actions we've paid for?

Yes. We shouldn't have to pay for their bad behavior or illegal actions. They should held liable, not taxpyers.

cpwill said:

Apparently we've been paying for the victims and abuses of our Representatives, without our knowledge. Do we have the right to see whose actions we've paid for?

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Im pretty sure that would be covered under FOIA right?

Crovax said:

Im pretty sure that would be covered under FOIA right?

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Something tells me that request is going to get d-r-a-g-g-e-d out like you wouldn't believe.

cpwill said:

Apparently we've been paying for the victims and abuses of our Representatives, without our knowledge. Do we have the right to see whose actions we've paid for?

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Absolutely. I consider that entity to be illegal. Don’t know if it is, but it is most certainly nothing but an intimidation factor for the victim and a slush fund for the abuser. It’s just plain wrong. In SO many ways.

Crovax said:

Im pretty sure that would be covered under FOIA right?

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Everything is covered by FOIA unless it’s classified.

cpwill said:

Apparently we've been paying for the victims and abuses of our Representatives, without our knowledge. Do we have the right to see whose actions we've paid for?

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If it's paid by taxpayers, oh hell yes! If they can't afford to settle their own messes, make every damned one of them buy mandatory Sexual Malpractice Insurance and pay exorbitant premiums.

The nerve of these senators and congresscritters having a secret sex settlement slush fund with our damned money!

MaggieD said:

Everything is covered by FOIA unless it’s classified.

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Nope. Not true.

cpwill said:

Apparently we've been paying for the victims and abuses of our Representatives, without our knowledge. Do we have the right to see whose actions we've paid for?

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Yup those rules were likely made in the 50s and probably haven't been updated since. They need to change.

Huh. I think we have finally found a bipartisan issue!

Out the ****ers.

cpwill said:

Apparently we've been paying for the victims and abuses of our Representatives, without our knowledge. Do we have the right to see whose actions we've paid for?

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I the vein of transparency, I would vote yes.

Crovax said:

Im pretty sure that would be covered under FOIA right?

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Most administrations have fought against the FOIA.

Not to be a stickler, but I think Obama's administration has the record for most denials.

Parrish said:

Nope. Not true.

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I love it when I learn something on DP. Thank you!

Exemptions

The nine exemption categories that authorize government agencies to withhold information are:
classified information for national defense or foreign policy
internal personnel rules and practices
information that is exempt under other laws
trade secrets and confidential business information
inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda or letters that are protected by legal privileges
personnel and medical files
law enforcement records or information
information concerning bank supervision
geological and geophysical information
Exclusions

Congress provided special protection in the FOIA for three narrow categories of law enforcement and national security records. The provisions protecting those records are known as “exclusions”. The first exclusion protects the existence of an ongoing criminal law enforcement investigation when the subject of the investigation is unaware that it is pending and disclosure could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings. The second exclusion is limited to criminal law enforcement agencies and protects the existence of informant records when the informant’s status has not been officially confirmed. The third exclusion is limited to the FBI and protects the existence of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence, or international terrorism records when the existence of such records is classified. Records falling within exclusion are not subject to the requirements of the FOIA.

Please Note

The FOIA applies only to federal agencies and does not create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, or by state or local government agencies.
The FOIA does not require agencies to do research for you, answer written questions, or in any other way create records (such as lists or statistics) in order to respond to a request.

Transparency. I think we all agree. Frankly, I am honestly shocked that they would dare to use taxpayer money for this purpose. It does show how brazenly they disregard the taxpayer and their own constituents. They really are an elite. And I'm usually quite proud of my country; I think we've been a very positive influence in the world, all things considered. But this whole thing is beyond repulsive. Disgusting, just disgusting.

This is also one of those times I wish I were president, just for a day. I would issue an executive order making this public in a New York minute.

There was bi-partisan legislation introduced last week that members of Congress who settle harassment cases would be required to pay out of their own pockets and the settlement amounts would be made public.

Even Trump came out in support of it.

Under current procedures, taxpayers pick up the tab and victims have to keep silent. Yes victims can not speak out after taking a settlement. How disgusting is that? Hope it passes. This code of silence crap needs to end.

The bill would also do away with non-disclosure agreements that victims are now required to sign.

cpwill said:

Something tells me that request is going to get d-r-a-g-g-e-d out like you wouldn't believe.

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You feckin-A betcha. The ruling class takes care of its own.

vesper said:

There was bi-partisan legislation introduced last week that members of Congress who settle harassment cases would be required to pay out of their own pockets and the settlement amounts would be made public.

Even Trump came out in support of it.

Under current procedures, taxpayers pick up the tab and victims have to keep silent. Yes victims can not speak out after taking a settlement. How disgusting is that? Hope it passes. This code of silence crap needs to end.

The bill would also do away with non-disclosure agreements that victims are now required to sign.

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I'd like to see it passed as well. A caution, however, for all concerned citizens. We must be vigilant as to the wording of such a bill. Dollars to doughnuts, the lizards on the Hill, both parties, will carefully word such a bill as to prevent current and past harassment investigations and settlements from being revealed to the public.

cpwill said:

Apparently we've been paying for the victims and abuses of our Representatives, without our knowledge. Do we have the right to see whose actions we've paid for?

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I voted "no" because I thought you were referring to the victims. If you're asking should we have the right to see which politicians were accused of harassment? I change my answer to yes.

cpwill said:

Apparently we've been paying for the victims and abuses of our Representatives, without our knowledge. Do we have the right to see whose actions we've paid for?

Click to expand...

I voted yes, of course, but I doubt that congress critters are willing to divulge these past "personnel" issues (records?) which are (conveniently?) exempt from FOIA requests. Most of these "settlements" are likely to have included NDAs to protect the privacy of how much tax payer loot is available to keep these "internal" nasty things from going public.

cpwill said:

Apparently we've been paying for the victims and abuses of our Representatives, without our knowledge. Do we have the right to see whose actions we've paid for?

Click to expand...

Hell yes we have the right, and next on the list? We don't pay for their settlements anymore.

I voted yes. One of the easiest votes I've ever had to make on anything in my life. This transcends party and politics. These people have no right to spend our money settling their bad behaviors.

tres borrachos said:

I voted yes. One of the easiest votes I've ever had to make on anything in my life. This transcends party and politics. These people have no right to spend our money settling their bad behaviors.

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And the more transparency in our government, the better.

Risky Thicket said:

I'd like to see it passed as well. A caution, however, for all concerned citizens. We must be vigilant as to the wording of such a bill. Dollars to doughnuts, the lizards on the Hill, both parties, will carefully word such a bill as to prevent current and past harassment investigations and settlements from being revealed to the public.

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I think it would accomplish a couple of things.

It would cause Congress critters to be less quick to engage in inappropriate behavior because if they do they know their days are numbered. You would hope their constituents would vote them out with such knowledge as well a hit to their own pocketbooks.

I also believe there are those who lie about such things and would expect a complete investigation on the matter. A claim of sexual harassment/abuse is not enough evidence to be considered guilty of such a thing. I do believe sometimes settlements are made just to make the matter go away. With new legislation making everything public that surely would stop as well because a Congress critter who claims he is innocent of such allegations isn't going to roll over and play dead.

lurchadams said:

I voted "no" because I thought you were referring to the victims. If you're asking should we have the right to see which politicians were accused of harassment? I change my answer to yes.

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Thank God. I was scared for a second. :mrgreen:

cpwill said:

Apparently we've been paying for the victims and abuses of our Representatives, without our knowledge. Do we have the right to see whose actions we've paid for?

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Yes assuming we the tax payer paid for those settlements. That said I don't believe settlements automatically equal guilt. Some people just want the problem to go away the cheapest and what they think is the most effective way of legally making it go away. Some people settle out of court because fighting it in court even though they may be victorious might cost a lot more than just settling out of court. Its why some people may confess to a crime they didn't do. Its why husbands tell their wives they are right even though they aren't or no that dress doesn't make you look fat even though she is.