Florida Rep. Hastings accused of sexual harassment

Lesley Clark | The Miami Herald

A former female employee who worked for Rep. Alcee Hastings filed a sexual harassment lawsuit on Monday against the Florida Democratic congressman.

In the suit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., the victim, Winsome Packer, said the alleged harassment took place from 2008-10, while she and Hastings were working on the U.S. Commission on Cooperation and Security in Europe, which is also known as the Helsinki Commission. He co-chaired the commission, which is an independent U.S. government agency.

The commission was also named as a defendant in the suit, which was brought by Packer and Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group.

Judicial Watch held a news conference on Monday in Washington to announce the filing of the suit.

Hastings could not be immediately reached for comment. Hastings 23rd congressional district includes portions of Broward, Palm Beach, Hendry, Martin, and St. Lucie counties. He was first elected to Congress in 1992.

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