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The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) has had at least one meeting with a former congressional aide who is suing Florida Democrat Rep. Alcee Hastings for sexual harassment, according to conservative watchdog Judicial Watch.
The group confirms that it was approached by the ethics office in May of this year, as was the former aide, Winsome Packer.
Packer alleged in a March lawsuit that she was “forced to endure unwelcome sexual advances, crude sexual comments and unwelcome touching” from her boss.
Hastings has vehemently denied the charges, calling them "ludicrous" and "bizarre."
The OCE is NOT the House Ethics Committee, but it makes recommendations to the Ethics Committee on matters that they believe should be investigated further. It is a non-partisan group.
Tom Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch, tells NBC News that the House Ethics Committee itself has not approached the organization and that Fitton's group did not make a formal complaint to OCE.
The OCE "is an independent, non-partisan entity charged with reviewing allegations of misconduct against Members, officers, and staff of the United States House of Representatives and, when appropriate, referring matters to the House Committee on Ethics."
Congress created the OCE in 2008 under Pelosi in an effort to "drain the swamp." Members of the public and outside organizations can suggest to the OCE things or situations that should be investigated. After conducting an initial review, if the OCE decides to to recommend to the House Ethics Committee that the matter should be investigated further, this will be publicly posted.
Neither Hastings' lawyer or chief of staff have responded to inquiries from NBC News.
UPDATE: Hastings' lawyer, Tonya Robinson, tells NBC:
Mr. Hastings is deeply disturbed by the allegations contained in the lawsuit now pending before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and, in the strongest terms, denies the charges. Mr. Hastings has stated unequivocally that the plaintiff's claims are untruthful and without merit.
Incidentally, the plaintiff's charges already have been the subject of extensive counseling and mediation, as the plaintiff acknowledges in her complaint. In that context, the plaintiff's allegations were fully aired and found to be meritless, and will be shown to be meritless in court as well.
Preliminary ethics inquiries are confidential matters under the relevant rules.
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I'll give Hastings the benefit of a doubt, but not much. The guy was already impeached as a judge and disbarred as an attorney.
That said what galls me about the reactionaries is the sanctimonius tone. Afterall, this is the party of values. Apparently the right is incapable of ethical transgressions. When you point out Vitter (whoring, which is a crime) Boehner (handing out campaign money on the floor of the House), the FLA rep who had a thing for House pages, The Hammer ( who helped institutionalize bribery) Abramoff, Ensign, ect , you are deflecting/distracting. Who created the panel mentioned in the article? Pelosi. Who was the first to call for an ethics investigation of Weiner? Pelosi.
Correct. He was in fact impeached by the U.S. Senate.
Both parties are capable of ethical transgressions. The difference is that the GOP does everything possible to quietly force ethically challenged lawmakers into retirement. We simply don't need the hassle. By contrast, Democrats traditionally circle the wagons and defend their rogues for inexplicable reasons.
David Vitter is a unique situation that has more to do with how the voters of Louisiana view prostitution.
The political establishment has done everything it can to "get rid" of Alcie Hastings since his time on the federal bench. He's like the Ugo Chavez of South Florida, they think, "Ooooh, oooh, oooh, we've got him THIS time" and then he gets away again. Sorry Boss Hogg, you're clean outta luck!
What they don't mention is that this A-HOLE was accused here in Miami of fraud and corruption back when he was a local politician ...
Now that he's a professional criminal, well game on!
Alcee Hastings deserves a cell next to Casey Anthony. He IS the definition of Dirtbag.
Here's the deal: a politician corrupted by power has to be clever enough to avoid detection.
Usually, not the case- sock puppets lack brains for obvious reasons (no room in there).
Do I care if it's a Democrat or a Republican?
Not really- if they abuse the office, they need to leave it. What's so hard to follow about that?
Is there a scoreboard? Well, yes there is: we're all losing, no matter which side "leads".
accused does not mean guilty.