Lieu Defends Congressional Sex Harassment Shush Fund: Victims Don’t Want Their Names All over the Press

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

BLITZER: "We’ve learned from some of your congressional colleagues, Republican congresswoman Barbara come stock from Virginia, Jackie Speier from California that in addition to Senator Franken, two other sitting members of Congress face allegations of sexual harassment. Does the pun, the American people, do they have a right to know their names?"
LIEU: "They do. And I believe sexual harassment should not be tolerated whether it’s in government or in the private sector. For too long we’ve not discussed this issue. It’s been in the shadows. People have been scared to report. First of all, there’s strong — I commend all the victims that have already come forward and I believe them and it’s something we just need to address head on in society because this is complete unacceptable the amounts of sexual harassment and sexual assault we’re seeing everywhere."
BLITZER: "Do you think it’s appropriate, congressman, for taxpayer money to be spent settling incidents of sexual harassment in Congress?"
LIEU: "So the government settles a variety of different cases, including sexual harassment. I do have some issues with that, but one of the reasons that these are settled is because of victims themselves don’t want their names blast erred all over the press, for example. So we have to also honor victims request in that case. But it is a very troubling issue. And I believe you’re going to see additional sexual assault cases appear, both on capitol Hill as well other places. It can’t be that Capitol Hill is immune from what’s happening across these other sectors that we’re seeing right now."