Document 1yyxjvM3zJG8BY3dyzdroQBVd

To: From: Sent: Subject: Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] The Washington Post Fri 10/27/2017 4:01:46 PM Federal Insider: Stories of Uncle Sam's pervasive culture of sexual misconduct Stories of Uncle Sam's pervasive culture of sexual misconduct By Joe Davidson Denice Rice, a Forest Service employee, who says she suffered retaliation after complaining about a supervisor who "poked my breast." (Photo courtesy of Denice Rice) At the end of my last column, covering a House committee report on sexual misconduct in the federal government, I asked readers about their experiences and their views on how pervasive that misconduct is. It was not a scientific survey, but based on the responses, it is safe to say that Unde Sam has not escaped the poisonous culture of assumed male privilege over female bodies that is pervasive generally. The previous column covered a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee report about the government's inconsistent disciplinary practices and poor record keeping on sexual misconduct. That document cited: Environmental Protection Agency's "lack of action to strengthen internal guidance for disciplining sexual misconduct," which the report called Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000433-00001 "stunning." i National Park Service's "history of sexual harassment and misconduct within its ranks." i Forest Service's "hostile and discriminatory work environment for women ... as well as a history of sexual harassment and misconduct that often went unaddressed." Email replies to my questions came from employees of various agencies, but the Forest Service more than any other, perhaps because it was shamed at a House Oversight Committee hearing I covered in December. Then, Denice Rice, an employee of California's Eldorado National Forest, told about how a male supervisor held a letter opener and "poked my breast, both breasts, with a smile on his face in an arrogant way, like he could get away with it." Almost a year after the hearing and "months of pure hell," things are no better for Rice, who said she lost her supervisory duties after reporting the harassment. "The agency protected him. ... I was removed of my supervisor duties. Moved away from my peers. ... Completely ostracized," she said Thursday. "I'm still fighting for my supervisor position back." Asked about the federal government's policy on sexual misconduct, the Office of Personnel Management punted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which also provided no answer. Among the readers' responses was one from a government lawyer working overseas. He did not want his or his organization's name used, because he fears retaliation. He was exonerated of sexual misconduct, but it came at a painful price. Federal agencies "have a bunch of slipshod rules enforced by poorly trained staff," he said. "The result is that the rights of the accused are often brushed aside on the altar of sexual harassment enforcement. ... For African-American men, the system is particularly biased as accusers are able to play on the institutional racism that is inclined to see black men as either criminals or sexual predators. ... The accused has no rights." Certainly, accusations too often pass for facts. But his experience is not that of women like Rice, who say they were punished after reporting sexual Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000433-00002 in any workplace. ..." she said. "This is a pervasive problem across our country. This must HstQfDFy is not the worst. Here are a few others: UfifnmtijVI^&yipttl^eeestBfeebirasot^ National Park Service firefighter in Central California. "More and more I was getting RdwhnHprietoxicated with encouragement from crew mates and supervisors to partake. I was eventually the victim of two sexual assaults. ... I had drugged in some way that night because I passed out very quickly that [Foigtt dtMiriweWarpm^ isetoi^dfdlnaslsaine^ eochtriaamt^lad been raped but was too out of sorts and embarrassed to drive to the nearest town and report it." {ZSIrirkGjglstd^^ Her email said her boss forced "me to tell him when I started my menstrual : [WWhobaqrfmdstIWIdoiMnicITwwfcn ttwewciwItlnetaiBg^ to find. My coworker physically jumps on my neck ride me like a horse while I cry and beg for him to stop while other crew members watched and laughed. Having my boss ... put me in a choke hold and trying to rape me as I beg for him to stop and now [he] has been promoted ... while I'm not allowed to work! And so much more I can go on and on!" Cheryl Raines spent 25 years fighting fires in the Cleveland Nation Forest in California and recalled an engine captain "who tried everything to get me to sleep with him for a few years and when he became my supervisor he made things miserable, including holding back training, fire assignments and eventually promotions. ... After 2 years of hell of trying to go through the process and resolution, the harasser still has his job and life goes for him with no type of punishment, this sends a message that they can get away with it and keep their jobs." Better training often is suggested to combat harassment. Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) introduced legislation Thursday that would require congressional staff to take anti-harassment training as she said executive branch employees do. : More from Federal Insider : 'Arm Lmo ,, x n A u f, dicing sexual misconduct in agencies : It's hard to know the extent of sexual misconduct in the : federal government because of poor and inconsistent Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000433-00003 disciplinary practices and record-keeping. By Joe Davidson | Columnist Read more Recommended for you - Get the Morning Mix newsletter A fresh mix of stories from all over that will be the talk of the morning. Aign. up.. . Share r scierai Insider: _ Click here to view in your browser. click here. privacy. If you believe that this email has been sent to you in error or you no longer wish to receive email from The Washington Post, click here. Contact us for help. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000433-00004