Tag: Blake Farenthold

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Texas Governor Wants Disgraced GOP Congressman To Pay For Special Election

Former Congressman Blake Farenthold (R)

The governor of Texas wants Republican Blake Farenthold to pay for the special election necessary to replace the now-former congressman after his sudden resignation three weeks ago.

It was revealed in December that Farenthold had used taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Initially, the Texas Republican signaled he would not seek re-election this fall and promised to repay the $84,000 funds.

But he never repaid the money and suddenly resigned from Congress earlier this month in an attempt to avoid writing that $84K check.

From HuffPost:

The House Ethics Committee was about to rule against Farenthold in its investigation into whether he sexually harassed members of his staff, used official money for campaign purposes and lied in previous testimony to the committee, according to the office of Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.).

The committee gave Farenthold a heads-up about its ruling, which it is legally required to do before issuing a decision, so he quit, per Speier’s office. Speier, who is not a member of the committee, has been one of Farenthold’s biggest critics and a vocal advocate for changing how sexual harassment allegations are handled in Congress.

By stepping down, Farenthold was able to avoid whatever punishment the committee would have handed down.

Farenthold’s district must now hold a special election June 30 and Gov. Greg Abbott wants him to pony up the $84,000 to help pay for the election.

Life comes at you fast, huh, Mr. Farenthold?

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Texas Rep. Blake Farenthold Won’t Seek Re-Election In The Face Of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Rep. Blake Farenthold ((R)

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold of Texas has announced he will not run for re-election in 2018.

Farenthold, currently in his fourth term in the House of Representatives, has been under fire since it was disclosed that he settled a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former aide with $84,000 in taxpayers’ money.

Via CNN:

A former senior aide to Rep. Blake Farenthold has approached the House Ethics Committee to share a damning account of working for the Texas Republican, with the intent of describing the congressman as verbally abusive and sexually demeaning — and his congressional office as an intensely hostile environment that drove the aide to physical and emotional distress.

Michael Rekola, who was Farenthold’s communications director in 2015, described in an interview with CNN new details of the congressman’s abusive behavior. It ranged from making sexually graphic jokes to berating aides — bullying that Rekola says led him to seek medical treatment and psychological counseling, and at one point, caused him to vomit daily.

One comment from the congressman was especially personal. Rekola was about to leave town to get married in July 2015, when, he said, Farenthold, standing within earshot of other staffers in his Capitol Hill office, said to the groom-to-be: “Better have your fiancée blow you before she walks down the aisle — it will be the last time.” He then proceeded to joke about whether Rekola’s now-wife could wear white on her wedding day — a clear reference, Rekola said, to whether she had had premarital sex.

In 2014, Rep. Blake Farenthold’s former communications director Lauren Greene sued alleging she’d been sexually harassed by the Congressman while working in his office.

Farenthold denies any sexual misconduct saying he only settled the lawsuit to put the matter to rest.

In the photo above, Farenthold (in the pajamas) posing with two women who were not his wife. You’ll note the woman on the left has an “M” on her hand which apparently meant she was underage and couldn’t legally drink at the event.

Rumors have swirled for years about Farenthold’s excessive drinking and inappropriate behavior.

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Sen. Susan Collins On Dueling Rep. Farenthold: “He’s So Unattractive. It’s So Unbelievable”

Rep. Blake Farenhold (R)

Sharp-eared reporter Niv Elis of The Hill noticed this funny exchange between what seems to be Sens. Jack Reed and Susan Collins speaking near an open mic.

During the hot-mic chat, Collins mentions GOP House Rep. Blake Farenthold, who had publicly announced he’d want to settle things with female senators against the Trumpcare bill with a duel.

Reed quickly assures Collins that she could “beat the shit” out of Farenthold. Collins goes on to note, “He’s so unattractive. It’s unbelievable.”

The “unattractive” Farenthold is in the pic above in his pajamas. Just to gross you out a little more, apparently the “M” on the hand of the young lady on the left is to let bartenders know she’s a minor.

I know. I know.

Listen to the exchange below.