House Has Spent $338,000 Since 2004 to Settle Harassment Claims Against Lawmakers

The U.S. House of Representatives has paid $338,000 since 2004 to resolve sexual harassment claims filed against lawmakers, according to information obtained through a subpoena. The total covers two decades of confidential settlements drawn from a fund maintained for that purpose.

Cbs News reported that the subpoena provided the first comprehensive accounting of payouts from the fund over that period. The disclosure comes after a request for records detailing how the money was used. Officials have not released individual case details, citing the confidential nature of the settlements.

Reaction to the Disclosure A former member of Congress appeared on the CBS News program "The Takeout" to offer reaction to the reported total. The interview addressed the scope of the payments and the operation of the settlement fund. The fund was created to allow claims to be resolved without drawing directly from individual office budgets.

Lawmakers have faced criticism in the past for the lack of transparency surrounding its use. The $338,000 figure represents the cumulative amount disbursed over 22 years. No breakdown by year or by individual member was included in the subpoena results released so far.