Texas Rep. Farenthold Still Hasn't Paid $84K Back For Harassment Settlement

What’s the story?

Texas GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold, who promised to pay back $84K of taxpayer money used to settle a harassment case against him, has still not paid back the funds, reports CNN.

On December 4 Farenthold told a local, Texas TV station that he was going to pay back the funds within the week:

"I'm … going to hand a check over this week to probably Speaker Ryan or somebody and say, 'Look, here's the amount of my settlement. Give it back to the taxpayers. I want to be clear that I didn't do anything wrong, but I also don't want the taxpayers to be on the hook for this.'"

Now an aide in his office has stated the congressman is, "waiting to see what changes the House will make to the Congressional Accountability Act before repaying those funds."

Speaker Paul Ryan’s office has stated that they still expect Farenthold to pay back the funds.

Farenthold announced in mid-December that he would not seek re-election at the end of his current term in response to widening harassment allegations against him.

What do you think?

Should Rep. Farenthold repay the funds immediately, or be allowed to wait?

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— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Wikimedia / Creative Commons)