WASHINGTON (KFGO) - A former U.S. Senator from South Dakota who, at one time, was one of the most powerful people in Congress, says he never knew about a secret fund that used public money to pay off sexual harassment victims.
Former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle was in the Senate for 18 years and also served on the Senate Ethics Committee. In an interview with KFGO News, Daschle said he wonders whether the secret settlements are even ethical.
“I was never aware that we even had a payout system” Daschle said. “That was news to me when I read it in the papers like everyone else. I frankly wasn’t aware that we didn’t have that kind of transparency. I thought everything was a matter of public record.”
The government paid more than $17 million in taxpayer money over the last 20 years to resolve claims of sexual harassment, pay disputes and other workplace violations.
“I’m not even sure that the payouts are something I could be supportive of. I can’t imagine why there would be a payout in the first place” according to Daschle. “Number one, I think we have to question whether that’s ethical – and number two, if (the payments) are made for whatever reason, they certainly ought to be made public.”
Daschle made the remarks in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against Minnesota Sen. Al Franken and Michigan Congressman Jon Conyers. Daschle said "it's a good thing" that harassment issues are being given more attention, but he says "it's a terrible time for our country."
When asked whether President Clinton could politically survive a sex scandal today like Clinton did two decades ago, Daschle said “I don’t know. That’s a good question. Times have changed.”