Amid a surge of sexual harassment allegations sweeping through Congress, Rep. Stephen Lynch said Capitol Hill needs a better system to deal with rampant sexual harassment and abuse.
“There needs [something like] an ombudsman … where someone represents you as the victim and can take the case for you and just gives you a little separation there,” Lynch said in an interview with Boston Public Radio Tuesday, “but also gives the enforcer the ability to take action.”
Buzzfeed News reported Monday that Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) settled a sexual harassment complaint in 2015. On Tuesday, Conyers “expressly and vehemently” denied the claims in a statement.
Last week, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) told reporters that she knows of two current members of Congress who “have engaged in sexual harassment” and described Congress as a “breeding ground for a hostile work environment for far too long.”
This comes as House Speaker Paul Ryan has called for a review of harassment policies and procedures. The current system requires accusers to sign a non-disclosure agreement and go through months of counseling and mediation, and gives the accused a chance to settle using funds from the U.S. Treasury.
Between 1997 and 2014, the U.S. Treasury has paid $15.2 million in 235 awards and settlements for Capitol Hill workplace violations, according to the Congressional Office of Compliance.
“I know there’s a cultural shift going on, and a good one” Lynch said. “This type of conduct is absolutely unacceptable, and it has career-ending, life-altering consequences. It’s got a big red flag on it that it didn’t have before.”
To hear Lynch’s full interview with Boston Public Radio, click on the audio player above.
