Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Rep. Alcee Hastings(D) Sued by Employee for Sexual Harassment

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.
"Although Ms. Packer repeatedly rejected Mr. Hastings’ sexual attention and repeatedly complained about the harassment to the Commission Staff Director, Fred Turner, Mr. Hastings refused to stop sexually harassing her. Rather, Mr. Hastings and Mr. Turner began to retaliate against Ms. Packer—including making threats of termination—because she continued to object to Mr. Hastings’ conduct."
Mr. Hastings is no stranger to scandal. In 1989, he was impeached and convicted on perjury and bribery charges stemming from his time as a federal judge in Florida. Sadly that didn't prevent him from running for Congress, or prevent the nitwits in his district from electing him to office.