Marjorie Taylor Green Joins 'Hush Gate' Truth Movement Over $17 Million in Congressional Payouts

For years, the idea that Congress secretly paid $17 million in taxpayer money to settle harassment claims has captivated and outraged the public.

This claim, popularized by viral posts and speeches from lawmakers, raises uncomfortable questions: Did Congress misuse public funds to cover up misconduct? Or is the story a distorted mix of facts and exaggerations?

The $17 Million Question

The controversy stems from a 2017 report by the Office of Compliance (OOC), which revealed that over $17 million had been used to resolve workplace disputes between 1997 and 2017, as reported by FactCheck.org. These settlements addressed a range of issues, from sexual harassment to discrimination and retaliation.

Recently, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) reignited the debate during a House hearing, stating: "Congress has secretly paid out more than $17 million of your money to quietly settle charges of harassment (sexual and other forms) in Congressional offices," as reported by Mediaite. Massie's remarks, echoed by figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), called for the release of names associated with these settlements. This demand for transparency has resonated with a public eagerness for accountability.

However, while the $17 million fund is outrageous and quite a powerful rallying point, it may not be what it seems.

Does the Allegation Hold Water?

Critics argue that the cries of outrage may oversimplify the issue by framing the $17 million figure as exclusively tied to harassment claims by members of Congress when the reality is more nuanced.

Contrary to popular belief, the OOC's report did not specify how much of the total was related to claims against members of Congress, nor did it confirm that all funds were tied to harassment claims. Instead, the settlements involved a wide range of legislative branch offices, including the Capitol Police and Congressional Budget Office.

Because of this, it's difficult to determine how much of this fund is being used by actual members of Congress. In one of the few confirmed cases of a Congressional representative using the fund to settle a harassment suit, former Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX) a reported and comparatively paltry $84,000, as reported by FactCheck.org.

Moreover, the $17 million figure is from a period spanning the two decades of the report, starting in 1997. Despite this ambiguity, that figure has been weaponized in partisan battles, with figures like former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) using it to threaten political adversaries. Gaetz, facing his own allegations of misconduct, has suggested exposing all settlements as a form of retaliation. This politicization risks overshadowing genuine efforts to increase transparency.

Calls for Transparency Intensify

While there is evidence that taxpayer money has been used to settle claims involving members of Congress, the assertion that $17 million was solely spent on alleged hush money payouts for harassment claims lacks concrete proof.

The idea that a politician could use the money with little oversight does lend credence to the argument for transparency that has captured social media; clearer rules on settlement disclosures could help restore public trust without compromising justice for victims. Yet the reality is more complex than the allegations suggest.

References: House Republican Demands Outing of Colleagues Who 'Secretly' Paid $17 Million in Taxpayer Money to Settle Sex Charges | A Misleading $17 Million Hush Money Claim | Republicans Want to Release Names of Lawmakers Accused of Sexual Harassment