The last few weeks have seen an unprecedented amount of sexual harassment claims. Most of the accusations are against well known men.
The list includes film directors and other celebrities. Most recent of note is the accusation against George Bush Sr.
It appeared that more women were coming out on a daily basis. The #MeToo campaign which started because Weinstein allegations had gain momentum.
Congress has also come into the limelight. It is reported that many women have been sexually assaulted by Congressmen.
But Congress apparently abides by different laws in such matters.
Congress
Briony Whitehouse gave her account from 2003. She was an intern at the time. Whitehouse said that a Republican Senator groped her in an elevator.
She said “At the time, I didn’t know what to do, so I did nothing at all.”
Whitehouse said “because this happened so early on for me, I just assumed this was the way things worked and that I’d have to accept it.”
Congress usually paid out way less than what most victims received. In some cases the matters are thrown out.
When it comes to Congress the laws differ to that of the public.
Rep. Jackie Speier said “it is not a victim-friendly process. It is an institution-protection process.”
“I think we would find that sexual harassment is rampant in the institution. But no one wants to know, because they’d have to do something about it,” she said.
Speier has pushed to change how cases have been handled but to no avail.
