Ethics panel extends probe into sexual harassment claims against Rep. Blake Farenthold

FILE - In this March 19, 2013 file photo, Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. The House Ethics Committee says it is continuing an investigation of Farenthold, despite a recommendation by an investigative panel that the complaint be dismissed. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) less FILE - In this March 19, 2013 file photo, Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. The House Ethics Committee says it is continuing an investigation of Farenthold, despite a ... more Photo: Jacquelyn Martin, STF Photo: Jacquelyn Martin, STF Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Ethics panel extends probe into sexual harassment claims against Rep. Blake Farenthold 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

WASHINGTON – The bipartisan House Ethics Committee, following a rash of sexual misconduct allegations in Congress, voted unanimously Thursday to reexamine sexual harassment allegations against Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi.

The panel said it will convene an investigative subcommittee to look at accusations from a former staff member, Lauren Greene, who sued Farenthold in 2014 alleging that he sexually harassed her and fired her when she complained.

The committee's decision came as a second woman came out publicly to voice complaints about what she described as a hostile work environment in Farenthold's office.

Greene's suit was settled in 2015 with an $84,000 out-of-court settlement in which Farenthold admitted no wrongdoing. The case came to light again this week when Farenthold acknowledged that the settlement was paid out from taxpayers funds, which he agreed to repay.

In extending its investigation, the Ethics Committee cited "more information" that was recently disclosed about the nature of the settlement, and the fact that both Farenthold and Greene have publicly called for greater transparency in the matter.

In a statement Thursday night, Farenthold said he was "relieved" by the panel's move. He noted the decision of the independent Office of Congressional Ethics in 2015 that found no "substantial reason to believe" Greene's allegations.

"Once all the facts are released, I'm confident this matter will once and for all be settled and resolved," Farenthold said. "This investigation increases the transparency the public deserves and what I've wanted since the beginning."

Greene, appearing on CNN Monday night, said she welcomed more transparency in her case, even though she said it has set her back in her career and made it difficult for her to find work. "I have nothing to hide," Greene said. "I think I did the right thing. I stood up for myself."

The Ethics Committee said it has already reviewed more than 200,000 pages of materials and interviewed multiple witnesses. It added that while Farenthold has cooperated in the investigation so far, the probe has been "significantly delayed by difficulties in obtaining live testimony" from other key witnesses.

Ethics investigators said they also have been hampered in obtaining confidential documents exchanged by Farenthold and Greene leading up to their settlement, which was sealed.

Another former Farenthold staffer, Elizabeth Peace, told the Chronicle Thursday that she believes Greene's account based on her own experiences in Farenthold's congressional office after Greene left.

Peace, who worked for two years in Farenthold's office, told the Chronicle earlier this week that the congressman had always treated her with respect, although the atmosphere for many other women in Congress could be "toxic."

On Thursday, however, Peace, a 37-year-old military mother of two, described Farenthold's office as a hostile work environment and said she regretted that her previous remarks had sounded like an endorsement.

"I feel like I need to apologize for my initial response because it came off as such an endorsement," Peace said. "He allowed the hostility in his office to continue. He allowed us to work in a place that was just emotionally damaging, and that should never be allowed in any office.

"While he didn't sexually harass me," Peace added, "his comments were inappropriate and his unwillingness to immediately take action to allow us to work in a safe environment is inappropriate."

Peace said she brought her complaints to Farenthold and his top aides, but it is unclear whether congressional officials took any formal action.

In a separate statement Thursday, a Farenthold spokeswoman said he "categorically denies that there were any other investigations."

Farenthold, 55, is the first member of Congress now known to have benefited from a little known Treasury Department fund created to cover workplace settlements involving lawmakers.

Farenthold said earlier this week that he plans to use personal funds to repay the government, a move that would be unprecedented under the 1995 Congressional Accountability Act that governs workplace disputes against lawmakers and their staffs.

Greene, then 27, alleged in a 2014 federal lawsuit that Farenthold made sexually suggestive remarks and, along with top staff members, created a hostile work environment. She did not allege any inappropriate sexual contact.

In his response to Greene's complaint, Farenthold alleged that she was fired for "poor performance."