Former Congressman Mel Watt (D-N.C.) abused his power as the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency by attempting to “coerce or induce” a relationship with a female employee, according to a bombshell Inspector General’s report.
Per The Washington Post:
The Inspector General’s investigation was completed in late November and sent to the White House, but President Trump took no action against Watt. He retired at the end of his term in January and Trump has nominated a replacement. The report of the IG investigation, released to The Washington Post after a Freedom of Information Act request, has not previously been disclosed to the public.
The report found that Watt implied he could use his position as head of a powerful financial regulator to help Simone Grimes obtain an executive position. He was also not “candid” with investigators and attempted to explain away his conversations with Grimes, some of which were recorded, as jokes or part of his attempts to mentor her, according to the report.
Investigators were not convinced and accused him of two counts of misconduct. “We find that there are no circumstances under which it would be appropriate for the head of FHFA to induce a subordinate female employee to meet with him alone, in his apartment, for a conversation in which he professes his attraction for that employee and holds out opportunities for the employee to serve in specific executive positions over which he exercises total control,” the report says.
Watt, a Democrat, spent 21 years in Congress before taking over leadership of FHFA under President Obama. The agency oversees two housing giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Grimes reiterated to the press that she is satisfied with the Inspector General’s findings. “Standing up for myself against the Director of a Federal Agency of the US Government has not been an easy thing to do.”
AAN Staff
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