Today, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust released the following statement in response to its 2015 ethics complaint against Representative Mark Meadows which was acted upon today by the Committee on Ethics. FACT’s complaint maintained Representative Meadows improperly gave a severance package to his former Chief of Staff after the staffer left Meadows’ staff over sexual harassment allegations.
Statement by Executive Director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust Kendra Arnold:
"We are pleased that today the Committee on Ethics has ruled on FACT’s 2015 complaint against Congressman Mark Meadows for improperly paying a severance to his former Chief of Staff after his employment with Meadows had been terminated. What makes this case particularly troublesome is that Meadows not only improperly misused taxpayer funds, but sought to protect a former employee who had been accused of sexual harassment in the workplace, an important detail which was not known at the time of FACT’s complaint. Today’s decision reaffirms that no public official or organization is above the law and that harassment of any kind should not be tolerated. FACT will continue to hold government officials from both parties accountable to the people they are elected to represent in Washington.”
Background:
FACT Complaint against U.S. Representative Mark Meadows:
On, September 18, 2015 the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics against U.S. Representative Mark Meadows for giving his former chief of staff a taxpayer-funded severance package, which is prohibited under House rules.
Read coverage of FACT's complaint in Politico.
FACT Calls for the Release of Names Tied to Congressional Sexual Harassment Fund:
USA Today Op-Ed by Kendra Arnold: Congressional sexual harassment will continue until settlements see the light of day
Washington Examiner: Congressional watchdog demands names in $17M sex harassment payoffs
FACT’s full statement on Harassment Settlement Fund here.