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Seeking compensation ... Republican Party Congressman Blake Farenthold's staffer Lauren Greene alleges she was sacked after complaining about sexual harassment. Picture: The Heavy via Twitter Source: Supplied
A US Congressman allegedly had “sexual fantasies†and “wet dreams†about a female staffer, who says she was improperly fired for accusing him of sexual harassment in a sexually charged office.
Lauren Greene is suing Republican Party Congressman Blake Farenthold, who was elected in 2010, The National Law Journal reported. She was the Texan lawmaker’s communications director until July.
Greene claims that Farenthold “regularly drank to excess†and told her in February that he was “estranged from his wife and had not had sex with her in yearsâ€.
“Farenthold regularly drank to excess, and because of his tendency to flirt, the staffers who accompanied him to Capitol Hill functions would joke that they had to be on ‘red head patrol to keep him out of trouble’,†Greene’s complaint alleges.
No stranger to controversy ... US Republican Party Congressman Blake Farenthold at a lingerie and pajama-themed birthday party fundraiser before his election. Picture: thecrushgirls.com / screen grab Source: News Corp Australia
She alleges that when confiding to Emily Wilkes (Farenthold’s executive assistant) that Farenthold was awkward toward her and ignored her, she was told that Farenthold had admitted to being attracted to Greene and to having “sexual fantasies†and “wet dreams†about her.
She alleges that disclosure made her even more uncomfortable around the politician yet Farenthold “regularly made comments designed to gauge whether [Greene] was interested in a sexual relationship.â€
She also alleged that Bob Haueter, Farenthold’s chief of staff, allegedly “belittled†her and shut her out of senior staff meetings.
“On June 10, 2014, in response to Haueter’s complaint about [Greene’s] shirt … which Haueter claimed was transparent and showed [Greene’s] nipples, Farenthold told [another woman staffer] that [Greene] could show her nipples whenever she wanted to,†Greene’s complaint asserts.
Greene claimed that she met with Farenthold in June to complain that Haueter “was bullying her and treating her in a very hostile fashion.â€
“Farenthold replied that Haueter was known to be condescending toward women on the staff, and then paid empty, lip service encouragement for [Greene] to stand up for herself,†the lawsuit states.
Under sexual harassment probe ... US Republican Party Congressman Blake Farenthold who allegedly told staffer Lauren Greene that he had "sexual fantasies and wet dreams" about her. Picture: Blake Farenthold / Facebook Source: Facebook
Greene was fired less than a month after this meeting. Haueter remains chief of staff.
The lawsuit alleges Farenthold’s office violated the Congressational Accountability Act when it sacked Greene and seeks monetary damages.
Farenthold, who in 2009 was pictured with a model at a nightclub, adamantly denies any wrongdoing.
“It goes without saying that both the Congressman and the members of his staff who are included in this complaint have a very different view of the allegations than Ms. Greene,’ Farenthold’s current spokesman, Kurt Bardella, said in a statement to The National Law Journal.
“For the record, the Office did not and does not discriminate based on sex or any other unlawful factor. The Congressman is eager to respond to Ms. Greene’s allegations through the appropriate legal process and is confident that once all of the facts are revealed, he will be cleared of any wrongdoing,’ the statement continued.