Justice is Not Being Served in South Texas

Years ago, I lived in Corpus Christi, Texas. I loved living there. However, from time to time I'd hear stories of abuse toward women and it was concerning. However, has time has revealed, voters in Corpus Christi voted in a sexual harasser to Congress by the name of Blake Farenthold (see flattering photo below). His old tricks got him in so much hot water that the Treasury Dept. had to pay $84,000 to one of his accusers in a settlement. Later, when it became public knowledge, Farenthold resigned and said he would repay the $84,000 and Paul Ryan believed him. End of story? No, the Roll Call reported there is more read on.

The congressman said at the time that he would repay the money to cover the settlement to the federal government but so far has not done so. But in an interview today,  Farenthold said he would not pay the money back despite saying he would. "I will say this on the record: I have been advised by my attorneys not to repay that," he said. "That’s why it hasn’t been repaid."

Because the State of Texas is on the hook for calling a special election, their Governor Greg Abbott has asked that Farenthold pay the bill estimated to be $125,000. Farenthold has declined to say if he'll honor that request. However, it turns out that the old rascal has returned home and got a new job. As the legislative liaison for the Port Authority of Calhoun County, Farenthold will earn a salary of $160,000.10, slightly less than his congressional salary of $174,000.

Despite this position never existing before, the new job was created because “Blake has always been a strong supporter of the Calhoun Port Authority and is familiar with the issues facing the Port,” a statement from the Calhoun Port Authority read. “The Board looks forward to the services Blake can provide in assisting the Port with matters in Washington, D.C.”

I've been away from Texas for close to twenty years, but I can still smell B.S. I am not alone, according to Roll Call, "Emily Martin, general counsel for the National Women’s Law Center, told the Victoria Advocate newspaper in Texas that Farenthold’s new employer should take steps to protect the women he will be working with.

“Hopefully, that very real threat of liability will lead the Port of Port Lavaca-Point Comfort to make sure that he does not have the opportunity to harass others, which means that those who came forward with complaints about his past behavior will have had a real impact and protected others by sharing their story,” she told the newspaper."