The Senate spent more than $1.45 million settling workplace harassment and discrimination cases over the past 20 years, according to data released by the Senate Rules Committee on Thursday.
The Office of Compliance (OOC) paid nearly $600,000 in claims stemming from senators’ offices across a total of 13 settlements, according to the data.
They also paid more than an additional $853,000 as part of 10 settlements in response to claims from other Senate-employing offices, according to the data.
Senators have been under pressure to release the information on sexual and workplace harassment claims after the House Office of Compliance began disclosing information on settlements.
Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyObstruction of justice watch: Trump attacks the FBI The Hill’s 12:30 Report Alabama businesses fear Moore victory would hurt state economy: report MORE (R-Ala.) said they had received assurances from Senate Legal Counsel that the release of the data didn’t violate the confidentiality of those involved in the settlements.
“While the Rules Committee has been eager to provide this information in a transparent manner, it has been our priority to protect the victims involved in these settlements from further harm,” he said.
Sen. Thad CochranWilliam (Thad) Thad CochranObstruction of justice watch: Trump attacks the FBI America isn’t ready to let Sessions off his leash The Hill’s Whip List: Where Republicans stand on Senate tax bill MORE (R-Miss.), the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, added “harassment of any kind is unacceptable. The Senate should hold itself to the highest standards of professionalism and respect.”Capitol Hill has been rocked by a recent string of sexual harassment and misconduct claims leading to several members, including Sen. Al FrankenAlan (Al) Stuart FrankenDemocrats turn on Al Franken Schumer called, met with Franken and told him to resign Overnight Finance: Trump says shutdown ‘could happen’ | Ryan, conservatives inch closer to spending deal | Senate approves motion to go to tax conference | Ryan promises ‘entitlement reform’ in 2018 MORE (D-Minn.) and Reps. John ConyersJohn James ConyersAbortion-rights group endorses Nadler in race to replace Conyers on Judiciary Democrats turn on Al Franken Michigan state senator to run for Congress MORE Jr. (D-Mich.) and Trent FranksHarold (Trent) Trent FranksHouse forges ahead with Dec. 22 spending bill Conservatives fear end-of-year ‘Christmas tree’ spending bill Adoption tax credit restored after conservative backlash MORE (R-Ariz.), resigning or announcing they would step down.The Senate’s Office of Compliance previously rejected Sen. Tim KaineTimothy Michael KaineDemocrats turn on Al Franken Avalanche of Democratic senators say Franken should resign Senate panel moves forward with bill to roll back Dodd-Frank MORE’s (D-Va.) request for information about sexual harassment settlements in Congress, citing the Congressional Accountability Act’s confidentiality rules.
Kaine submitted his request on the day that Franken announced his resignation from the Senate after multiple women alleged that Franken had groped or forcibly kissed them in the past.
In a letter to Kaine earlier this week, the OOC noted that it traditionally hasn’t “separated allegations of sexual harassment from those involving sex-based disparate treatment or pregnancy discrimination.”
“In fact, for many years, the office simply classified all claims alleging discrimination of any kind as civil rights cases without any further differentiation,” wrote Susan Tsui Grundmann, the executive director of the OOC.
Kaine commended the move to release the data on Thursday night, calling it a “first step.”
“I appreciate that the Senate Rules Committee did the right thing today by heeding calls to release this data. This is the first step toward a more transparent reporting system for harassment in Congress to hold people accountable for their actions,” he said.
Updated: 8:34 p.m.