Congressman Exposed Self To Staffer, Who Later Quit: VA Lawmaker

WASHINGTON, DC — Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock, of Virginia, on Tuesday said she was recently toldby a trusted source that a Congressman exposed himself to a staffer. Comstock in remarks at a House hearing on preventing sexual harassment on Capitol Hill, said a staffer quit her job after a lawmaker asked her to bring work material to his house, then exposed himself.

"That kind of situation, what are we doing here for women, right now, who are dealing with someone like that?" Comstock asked.

Comstock represents Virginia's 10th Congressional district, which includes Clarke, Frederick, and Loudouncounties, as well as parts of Fairfax, and Prince William counties.

Stories of sexual harassment and gender hostility are continuing to come to light in various industries, including entertainment and politics.

Comstock did not name the member of Congress, whose name wasn't disclosed to her.

At the same hearing, Rep. Jackie Speier said there are two current lawmakers who have been involved in sexual harassment.

"In fact there are two members of Congress, Republican and Democrat, who serve right now who have been subject to review, or not been subject to review, that have engaged in sexual harassment," said Speier.

The Democrat from California recently introduced legislation to make sexual harassment training mandatory for members of Congress after sharing her own story of being assaulted by a male chief of staff. Her bill also includes a survey of the current situation in Congress and an overhaul of the processes by which members and staffers file harassment complaints.

The bill has gained bipartisan support. Republican Committee chairman Gregg Harper, of Mississippi, said in his opening remarks, "I believe we need mandatory training, and probably everyone here would agree."

The Senate last week unanimously approved a measure requiring all senators, staff and interns to be trained on preventing sexual harassment. On a voice vote, lawmakers adopted a bipartisan resolution calling for training within 60 days of the measure's passage. Each Senate office would have to submit certification of completed training, and the certificate would be published on the public website of the secretary of the Senate.

The measure had widespread support, and the action occurred within days of the resolution's formal introduction.

Earlier this month, The Associated Press reported on one current and three former female lawmakers who said they had been harassed or subjected to hostile and sexually suggestive comments by fellow members of Congress, some of whom are still in office. Shortly afterward House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., sent a memo to fellow lawmakers encouraging them to complete sexual harassment training and make it mandatory for their staffs.

With each passing day, new revelations of sexual misconduct continue to rock the political sphere. In recent days Alabama's Republican nominee for Senate has come under fire after several women have come forward with accounts of sexually inappropriate behavior or, in at least one case, assault, at Moore's hand when they were teenagers. In the wake of the allegations, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republicans have said Moore should step aside. One Republican has suggested that if elected, Moore should be expelled from the Senate.

Watch: More Capitol Hill Sexual Harassment Cases Revealed

By JULIET LINDERMAN, Associated Press

Photo credit: Alex Brandon/Associated Press