Rep. Blake Farenthold’s office hired lawyers from a private firm to conduct a review after two staffers' complaints about inappropriate workplace conduct in 2016, Farenthold's office confirmed on Friday.

Farenthold (R-Texas) is under fire after settling a sexual harassment claim using $84,000 in taxpayer money. He has denied wrongdoing, and one ethics watchdog cleared him of wrongdoing in 2014. But the House Ethics Commission announced Thursday it is still investigating the four-term congressman.


In the 2016 episode, a female aide mentioned to Farenthold that the congressman's chief of staff, Bob Haueter, treated female staff in the office "differently," Farenthold spokeswoman Stacey Daniels said in response to questions from POLITICO. Another employee subsequently said that the first employee who lodged the complaint engaged "in inappropriate sexualized commentary in the workplace.”

Haueter did not respond to a request for comment.

Farenthold's office, in response, enlisted what Daniels called an "independent investigative team" to review the claims.

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Aides were interviewed in a conference room in the Longworth Office Building about whether the work environment amounted to sexual harassment, according to a person familiar with the situation. Daniels would not specify who conducted the investigation, or what the harassment training included.

The investigation yielded no evidence of gender bias or inappropriate sexual comments, Daniels said. Farenthold and his staff “took sensitivity and anti-harassment training to insure full compliance with office policy and the law."

The aide who lodged a complaint in early 2016 about the work environment alleged that staff in the office drank at work and discussed sex tapes, strip clubs, which Fox News anchors had breast implants, and lobbyists who texted photos of their genitals, according to the person familiar with the situation. The aide spoke with Farenthold’s chief of staff about these issues and sent a follow-up email, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO, stating her concerns. The congressman subsequently brought in outside lawyers to speak with staff.

“If the constituents [knew] what happened in his office on a daily basis, they would never reelect him,” the person told POLITICO.

In another email shared with POLITICO, one staff member wanted to create a social media post on Farenthold's account with a photo of one of the congressman's aide attending an opening of a Twin Peaks restaurant, a Hooters-like chain based in Texas. The idea was to draw attention to the Texas-based business.

In response to the request, Elizabeth Peace, who was press secretary at the time, wrote to other Farenthold aides, “It's not only a bad idea, it is a complete put-down to women and body image everywhere. Not only does this particular Congressman not need this image, I won't do it personally.”

The 2016 allegation of inappropriate behavior in the office by an aide is the second such known allegation of poor workplace conduct in Farenthold’s office. In 2014, a former Farenthold aide named Lauren Greene filed a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and sexual harassment in Farenthold’s office.

Greene also alleged she faced retaliation for speaking out against Farenthold and has said she had trouble finding another job after leaving his office. On Thursday, POLITICO reported that the House Ethics Committee is investigating the sexual harassment claim against Farenthold and recently requested to speak with Greene.

Farenthold has denied that he sexually harassed Greene, and said this week he voluntarily testified before the House Ethics committee and the Office of Congressional Ethics about Greene’s allegations. Farenthold said in a statement when the case was settled that he “adamantly denies that he engaged in any wrongdoing.”

Another former Farenthold aide, Rachel Wolbers, told POLITICO that she didn’t witness inappropriate behavior by Farenthold.