[Mega Thread] The all encompassing sexual misconduct thread

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/newsalert-greg-zaun-fired-sportsnet-235650945.html

Former MLB catcher and Blue Jays analyst Gregg Zaun has been fired from Sportsnet due to "inappropriate behavior and comments."

 

Good. I hope more of them keep falling

 

Worth repeating

 

Probably deserves it's own thread in hangout.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/30/med...al-assault-stepping-down-companies/index.html

Russell Simmons is stepping down from his companies in the wake of an accusation of harassment and sexual assault.
Simmons, the founder of hip-hop music label Def Jam Recordings and CEO of Rush Communications, released a statement on Thursday after screenwriter Jenny Lumet accused him of forcing her to have sex with him in 1991. She detailed the encounter in a guest column published by The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday.


"I have been informed with great anguish of Jenny Lumet's recollection about our night together in 1991," Simmons said in a statement. "I know Jenny and her family and have seen her several times over the years since the evening she described. While her memory of that evening is very different from mine, it is now clear to me that her feelings of fear and intimidation are real. While I have never been violent, I have been thoughtless and insensitive in some of my relationships over many decades and I sincerely and humbly apologize."

The statement continued: "This is a time of great transition. The voices of the voiceless, those who have been hurt or shamed, deserve and need to be heard. As the corridors of power inevitably make way for a new generation, I don't want to be a distraction so I am removing myself from the businesses that I founded. The companies will now be run by a new and diverse generation of extraordinary executives who are moving the culture and consciousness forward. I will convert the studio for yogic science into a not-for-profit center of learning and healing. As for me, I will step aside and commit myself to continuing my personal growth, spiritual learning and above all to listening."
More at link.

 

More on this stalwart GOP representative...

Report: U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold settled sexual harassment claim with taxpayer funds

Abby Livingston
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold settled a sexual harassment claim brought by a former staffer with $84,000 in taxpayer funds, according to a Politico report published Friday.

Farenthold, a Republican from Corpus Christi, has served in the U.S. House since 2011. The settlement stems from a 2014 case brought by Lauren Greene, a former Farenthold staffer. Both parties agreed to drop the case in 2015, but the terms of the settlement were not clear at the time.

After Politico published its report Friday, Farenthold said in a statement, "While I 100% support more transparency with respect to claims against members of Congress, I can neither confirm nor deny that settlement involved my office as the Congressional Accountability Act prohibits me from answering that question."

Farenthold's settlement is a small part of a much larger well of money used to settle workplace issues stemming from the U.S. House. On Capitol Hill, more than $17 million in taxpayer funds has been spent since 1997 to settle all kinds of workplace disputes — among them sexual harassment.

The fund, managed by the Office of Compliance, is under heightened public scrutiny following a wave of sexual assault accusations against members of Congress. The account was meant to protect the workplace rights of congressional staffers. But by keeping cases confidential, critics say the public money is being used to shelter the unnamed sexual harassers, potentially endangering more victims.

Following Friday's report, Farenthold drew sharp criticism from some Texas Republicans, including Michael Cloud, a former Victoria County GOP chairman and the only Republican currently challenging Farenthold in next year's Republican primary.

“If allegations prove true, this represents a gross betrayal of the public trust — and highlights the need to elect people of integrity who will work to restore public confidence in our halls of Government,” Cloud said.

Others, such as Nueces County GOP Chairman Mike Bergsma, said they didn't believe the charges against the congressman to begin with — and still don't.

"I know Blake real well," Bergsma told the Tribune, saying he had never seen Farenthold make a lewd comment to a woman. "When you sue a congressman, you're really suing the whole House; there's not a direct way to sue the congressman — and it's just cheaper to settle than pursue it. ... I think [Farenthold] has done nothing wrong here."

Alex Arriaga and Cassandra Pollock contributed to this report.

 

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywoo...eir-stories-of-james-toback-sexual-harassment

 

He looks like a character from Revenge of the Nerds.

 

It might be. Do you think Bill Maher was the one who decided to take action against those employees accused of sexual harassment? I'm not sure he's that involved that he's making those decisions. But perhaps he was. If so, good for him.

 

This one came out of the blue... and the republicans appear willing to serve him up...

 

We should also create a Mega Thread for the Evangelical Congressman caught either being gay or paying someone off for an abortion!