His name is Alcee Hastings. You might remember him — he’s the impeached Democrat federal judge (on bribery) whom Nancy Pelosi tried to install atop the House Intelligence Committee a few years back. Now’s being sued for allegedly harassing a Republican on the staff of the committee he did eventually chair, the US Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
For over two years, from January 2008 through February 19, 2010, Ms. Packer was forced to endure unwelcome sexual advances, crude sexual comments, and unwelcome touching by Mr. Hastings while serving as the Representative of the Commission to the United States Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. 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.
Ms. Packer was particularly vulnerable to such threats because she was a Republican working for the Democratically-controlled Commission, a point that both Mr. Hastings and Mr. Turner used to threaten and intimidate her. Eventually, the emotional distress, anxiety, and humiliation caused by the sexual harassment and retaliation caused Ms. Packer to suffer severe health problems and forced her to leave her prestigious position.
Less severe behavior that what is alleged here once cost Sen. Bob Packwood his seat in the Senate. He happened to be a Republican, so everyone from the DNC to NOW hounded him until he had no choice but to leave. Let’s just see if the Democrats and their allies today drum Hastings out of the House.
Why are you laughing?
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