Ryan expects Farenthold to ‘follow through’ on repaying taxpayer money from settlement

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is expecting outgoing Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) to “follow through” on his commitment to reimburse taxpayers for a settlement of a sexual harassment claim against him.

Farenthold, who abruptly resigned Friday amid public backlash over the settlement, had initially promised to pay back the $84,000 in taxpayer funds, though it appears he has not yet made good on the pledge.

“Mr. Farenthold made a commitment that he would reimburse taxpayers for the settlement. He reiterated his commitment to the speaker and the speaker expects him to follow through,” Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong said in a statement Friday obtained by The Hill.

Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), the chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee, released a statement after Farenthold’s resignation earlier Friday urging him to repay taxpayers.

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“I hope Blake is true to his word and pays back the $84,000 of taxpayer money he used as a settlement. As I have said repeatedly, Congress must hold ourselves to a higher standard and regain the trust of the American people,” Stivers said.

As of February, the congressman’s office said they were consulting with their legal counsel before taking action.

The settlement went to a former female staffer who sued Farenthold in 2014 over sexual harassment and gender discrimination.

Lauren Greene, Farenthold’s former communications director, also sued the congressman over allegations of a hostile work environment.

Farenthold said in December he would not seek reelection in 2018 amid backlash over the allegations. He denied a number of the allegations but apologized last year for his use of inappropriate language and outbursts.