Alcee Hastings Faces Sexual Harassment Allegation From Former Aide Winsome Packer

WASHINGTON — A former aide to Rep. Alcee Hastings filed a lawsuit Monday claiming he repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances and threatened her position when she refused him, allegations the congressman denied as "ludicrous."

The conservative legal group Judicial Watch is representing Winsome Packer in her sexual harassment claim against Hastings, a Florida Democrat, and the Helsinki Commission that he chaired. Packer served as the commission's staff representative in Vienna and said much of the harassment occurred when Hastings was in Europe on business for the commission, which advises on U.S. policy about security, human rights and other issues involving Europe.

Packer's suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, said Hastings kept asking to stay at her apartment or get her to visit his hotel room, hugging her and making sexual comments including asking her what kind of underwear she was wearing.

Hastings, a 74-year-old serving his 10th term in the House, issued a written statement denying Packer's claims.

"I have never sexually harassed anyone," the statement said. "In fact, I am insulted that these ludicrous allegations are being made against me. ... I will win this lawsuit."

New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith, the current chairman of the commission, said Packer was told under Hastings leadership that laws protecting congressional workers do not apply to commission staffers like her.

"I absolutely will insist that all of the current protections afforded to every other congressional employee, in like manner, apply to the people on the Helsinki Commission," Smith said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "I have a zero tolerance policy (toward sexual harassment) in my own office and now as chairman of the Helsinki Commission as well."

Packer had been a Republican staffer on Capitol Hill, but lost her job after Democrats took control of Congress in the 2006 election. Her suit claimed that Hastings, who knew her through a friend of hers who worked in his office, invited her to apply to the commission but soon after her hiring made it clear he wanted a personal relationship.

Packer said she complained to her supervisors in Washington, the commission's counsel and aides to Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., the commission's co-chairman. Cardin spokeswoman Sue Walitski said she couldn't comment on the case. Packer also complained to the House Ethics Committee. The panel did not act on her complaint, and she resigned as, she said, she developed stress-related health problems.

"What happened to me was no secret," Packer said at a news conference at Judicial Watch headquarters. "I was let down by the commission and the Congress."

___

Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this report.

Comments

[Broderick Crawford]

04:40 PM on 03/08/2011

In 1988, the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives took up the case of bribery and perjury against Federal Judge Alcee Hastings and he was impeached by a vote of 413-3. He was convicted in 1989 by the United States Senate, becoming the sixth federal judge in the history of the United States to be removed from office by the Senate. The vote on the first article was 69 for and 26 opposed, providing two votes more than the two-thirds of those present that were needed to convict. The Senate had the option to forbid Hastings from ever seeking federal office again, but did not do so.

Pelosi decided to place Hastings on the Intelligence Committee displacing Rep. Jane Harman(D) in 2008 to placate the Congressional Black Caucus.

[desert bloom]

03:51 PM on 03/08/2011

This is ridiculous. Who thinks they have the right to criticize this man? He is an African American.

[Passenger57]

01:06 PM on 03/08/2011

If this woman has proof-and I hope she does (as opposed to baseless allegations)...somebody's toast!

[havbrush]

12:51 PM on 03/08/2011

This happened in 2006. It's now 2011. Sounds kind of suspicious that this 'victim' is just getting around to bringing this suit. She is being represented by Judicial Watch. The following is Wikipedia's description of Judicial Watch: Judicial Watch is an organization that describes itself as "a conservative, non-partisan American educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law." What took her and this conservative organization so long? Sounds like someone has funded researchers to scour records to find any allegations made against sitting dem office holders in order to file law suits, even those allegations that are five years old and not deemed worthy of follow up by a supervisor or the House Ehtics Committee. There's a lot of money being thrown around out there by the right. I wonder if this suit is the result of some of that money?

[gman87]

12:45 PM on 03/08/2011

I am shocked, SHOCKED, that an impeached Federal judge (Hastings) could somehow be lacking in moral fiber.

PS, don't forget to play the race card before it's too late.

[inkhosi]

10:23 PM on 03/08/2011

*GASP*

It's cause he's black!

...but, what's sad is that all to often it's not true. Why hasn't anyone played the race card with Justice Thomas, though? Better question---why hasn't anyone had to?

[MrBrownstone]

12:29 PM on 03/08/2011

You know I love it, when its a Republican its their pigs, but when its a democrat it has to be a lie cause the accuser is a republican talk about a living with blinders on.... All I have to say about that is "I did not have sexual relations with that women"....

[BigRex]

12:31 PM on 03/09/2011

actually if its true...Hastings is a pig as well.

[Heavenhound]

12:21 PM on 03/08/2011

To say the least, Alcee Hastings is ethically one of the worst prizes ever to come out of a Cracker Jack box. I wouldn't put it past him to have done something like this. That doesn't mean he did it. But watch the repubs go after this obvious clown like a pack of jackals culling the weakest and most vulnerable wildebeest, just because they need a crooked Democrat to make themselves smell sweeter and to deflect attention from the long and ever-growing list of repubs convicted of almost every imaginable felony. They'll have to add another entrance to heII just to accommodate unrepentant repub felons.

[ladydragon]

12:17 PM on 03/08/2011

New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith, the current chairman of the commission, said Packer was told under Hastings leadership that laws protecting congressional workers do not apply to commission staffers like her.

This part of the story should tell you to alert everyone to take this Big Lie with a grain of salt. Alcee has been on the Hill for how long? We will soon find out where the money came from for her to say something so stupid

[emlr]

11:59 AM on 03/08/2011

Clarence Thomas revisited.

[mikefina]

01:10 PM on 03/08/2011

Anita Hill lied. Repeatedly.

[derspado]

11:52 AM on 03/08/2011

Its OK to harass if you are dem. Duh! Check with Clinton, WINNING!

[Dead Che]

11:40 AM on 03/08/2011

Poor old Alcee has a tough time staying on the right side of the law. Please quit voting this ethically challenged man into office Florida 23. His lapses of judgement have been clear for all to see for many years now.

[BigRex]

12:32 PM on 03/09/2011

its really amazing the number of politicians that get indicted/convicted that would still garner the popular vote. Buddy C in Providence is one such figure...

[Midnightrain]

11:27 AM on 03/08/2011

Um, I don't believe her at all. Just pure instinct.

[Boyz2Menudo]

11:27 AM on 03/08/2011

"Hmmm, Packer's fan?" the aging Congressman asked himself. "Just wait," he reassured himself, "Alcee..."

[nuQlerOstrich]

11:11 AM on 03/08/2011

Hmmm, Republican ex-staffer makes allegations against a Democratic Congressman. I can't say I'd miss Hastings tho. He's just about one of the most DO-NOTHING Congressmen we have ever had here in the 23rd.

[Rightlygay]

10:58 AM on 03/08/2011

Sexual "harassment" is harmless....take it as a compliment and move on ! (people take things WAY too seriously...get over it....)