Farenthold to retire amid harassment claims

WASHINGTON—Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, will not seek reelection next year amid accusations of sexual harassment, according to Republican Party sources. But he is not resigning and plans to finish the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2019, according to KAVU-TV in Victoria, Texas. The news comes after the House Ethics Committee announced it would begin an investigation into the lawmaker’s conduct with his staff. In 2014, Farenthold fired his communications director, Lauren Greene, who filed a lawsuit against him. Greene claimed Farenthold made sexually charged comments about her and created a hostile work environment. Politico reported that a year later, Farenthold settled the lawsuit with Greene using $84,000 in taxpayer money to keep her sexual harassment claims quiet. Farenthold promised he would repay the settlement money with his own funds. But pressure continued to build as more staff members spoke out about Farenthold’s conduct. Michael Rekola, Farenthold’s communications director in 2015, told CNN in a report published Wednesday that his former boss often berated his staff. He said Farenthold made sexually graphic jokes and bullied him. Rekola claimed Farenthold’s behavior led him to seek psychological counseling. Three lawmakers have already resigned this month amid harassment claims: Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), and Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.).