[ad_1]
WASHINGTON – A senior federal official who Thursday accused housing finance officer Mel Watt of sexual harassment, told a congressional panel that his behavior had left him "extremely hurt". comfortable and dangerous ".
Simone Grimes, during her first public appearance, told the House Financial Services Committee that Mr. Watt had made repeated "unwanted advances", asking him to meet in "unusual places" while she was demanding an increase corresponding to his responsibilities. .
Ms. Grimes stated that Mr. Watt, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, described the employment process as "charade" and linked the discussions on his career advancement "to the fact that he had drawn me ".
"I felt trapped, as if my back were against the wall," said Grimes.
Simone Grimes is a Program Management Analyst at FHFA.
Photo:
Seanie Blue
In August, Mr. Watt stated that the publication of details about the charges "was clearly intended to embarrass or lead to an unfounded or political conclusion" and that he was "satisfied that the ongoing investigation will confirm that I did not have not done. anything that is against the law.
A spokesman for the FHFA in a written statement said on Thursday that he "takes allegations of discrimination and sexual harassment very seriously" and added that Mr. Watt "did not participate in any decision concerning the complainant. The agency and Mr. Watt have a separate legal advisor on this, she added.
Mr. Watt, 73, is also scheduled to appear before the House panel on Thursday. A former Democratic Congressman, Mr. Watt was appointed in 2014 by President Obama to lead the FHFA, which oversees the giants of real estate finance.
Fannie Mae
and
Freddie Mac
.
His tenure is up in January, when the Trump administration will have the opportunity to appoint a successor.
Ms. Grimes' appearance was supported by Democrat Representative Maxine Waters (D., Calif.), Former colleague of Mr. Watt at the Congress. Ms. Waters called Mr. Watt a long time friend. "I visited her son in California and I gave her grandchildren gifts," she said. But "Ms. Grimes should be able to testify here today," she added.
In her testimony, Ms. Grimes stated that over time, "going to the office was starting to become a very traumatic experience" and she started to avoid some business meetings lest Mr. Watt find the opportunity to approach it later. She began recording her interactions with Mr. Watt.
Ms. Grimes stated that the FHFA had failed to protect her and that she had been retaliated after filing complaints. "Director Watt warned me of the failures of the #MeToo movement" and warned that "victims who file complaints are usually persecuted," she said.
"I felt it was a threat," she said.
Ms. Grimes works at FHFA under the direction of Mr. Watt. The charges of Mrs. Grimes, a 44-year-old supervisory program management analyst, are the subject of three government investigations and a prosecution for equal pay in federal court seeking damages and interests.
Mr. Watt's tenure, which oversaw the two companies, which had been under government control since the financial crisis, was relatively calm until the charges surfaced. In 2015, Congress overturned its decision to raise the salary ceilings of two real estate finance executives to $ 4 million, up from $ 600,000.
In May, Ms. Grimes filed a harassment complaint against Mr. Watt at the FHFA office dealing with equal employment opportunities.
This led to investigations, including that of FHFA Inspector General Laura Wertheimer, who is scheduled to testify before the committee after Ms. Grimes. The Inspector General of the US Postal Service conducts a second investigation because the supervisory body of FHFA is under the control of Mr. Watt.
Ms. Wertheimer's office publicly disclosed Ms. Grimes' name in a lawsuit to have her subpoena executed for proof of her harassment complaints.
A summary report of the Postal Service's investigation alleges allegations that for three years Mr. Watt made repeated sexual advances to Ms. Grimes while attempting to talk to her about her career advancement.
Mr. Watt refused to be interviewed for the US Post investigation, claiming that he was exempt from the agency's anti-harassment rules because he was appointed by the president and collaborated separately in the investigation. Inspector General of the FHFA.
The FHFA served as director for Fannie and Freddie – who subscribe nearly half of all US mortgages – since the two companies were taken over by the government during the financial crisis of 10 years ago.
Write to Lalita Clozel at lalita.clozel. @ Wsj.com
Source link
