A Misleading $17 Million Hush Money Claim

Site

https://www.factcheck.org/2018/10/a-misleading-17-million-hush-money-claim/

Distortion

Biased Misrepresentation

Logical failure

In the article they assert (correctly) that:

It’s true that the federal Office of Compliance, in a 2017 report, said that between 1997 and 2017, it had recorded more than 260 settlements and awards — totaling more than $17 million. But those cases include more than just complaints of sexual harassment and they don’t only relate to claims against members of Congress.

But they summarize it as:

In short, it’s unclear just how much taxpayer money has been spent on behalf of members of Congress to resolve sexual harassment claims. But we do know the OOC didn’t say it was $17 million.

(Emphasis added.)

The truth is: because these reports are secret, we do not know if 100% of the $17 million went to a single sexual abuse allegation, or was used strictly by DC police (with no Congressman ever defended).