House Ethics Committee expands Farenthold probe to include false statements
The House Ethics Committee is expanding its investigation into Rep. Blake Farenthold, the Texas Republican accused of sexually harassing and berating former staffers. The committee is now also investigating whether he improperly used House resources to benefit his congressional campaigns, required congressional staff to work on his campaigns, and made false statements or gave incomplete information to the investigating committee.
The ethics panel made the announcement of its expanded investigation in a Thursday statement. The committee voted unanimously to expand the jurisdiction of the inquiry.
Farenthold has already said he will not run for re-election in 2018, and has still been visible in Washington, D.C. On Wednesday, he was in the stands with other members of Congress at the White House to celebrate the passage of the GOP tax bill. But the expanded investigation into Farenthold could place additional pressure on him to step down sooner.
The House Ethics Committee announced its Farenthold probe amid news that he used $84,0000 in taxpayer funds to settle sexual harassment allegations from former communications director Lauren Greene. Farenthold said he would repay taxpayers for the money. Then, another former staff member, Michael Rekola, went on the record to describe a culture of harassment and bullying in Farenthold's office. Rekola told CNN the congressman regularly described aides with an expletive and would break into screaming fits of rage, slamming his fists on desks.
Recently, Farenthold seemed to be having a hard time tracking the allegations leveled against him.
"There's been so many, I don't know what all is going on," he told reporters on Capitol Hill earlier this month.
The committee does not have a timeline for its review.
