Arizona congressman wants apology for ‘misleading’ settlement article

PHOENIX — U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) demanded a newspaper apologize on Tuesday after it ran a story that he labeled a “misleading article.”

Grijalva said he was contacted by the Washington Times last week about a possible sexual harassment claim against him, which he denied.

He said the paper then went on to attempt to link a settlement he made with a staffer in 2015 concerning a hostile workplace to the ongoing sexual harassment claims running rife through Washington, D.C.

“Once the paper realized its original story was probably false, staff regrouped over the holidays and decided to run a misleading article trying to link me to sexual harassment complaints made against other people,” Grijalva said.

The congressman said he and the former employee reached an agreement with the House Employment Counsel that was consistent with House Ethics Committee guidance. He also said the severance funds were paid out of his committee operating budget.

“Every step of the process was handled ethically and appropriately,” he said. “The journalistic standards at the Washington Times are lax and the paper owes me an apology.”

The Times reported the settlement was for $48,395, the equivalent to five months of the former aide’s salary. Grijalva said he could not discuss the settlement, as it would violate the terms of the deal.

The aide, who reportedly had an issue with Grijalva’s drinking, dropped her hostile workplace complaint without filing an official complaint with the Office of Compliance.

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