Agency denies congressman sexually harassed aide
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An independent US agency is denying claims that a former co-chairman, US Rep. Alcee Hastings, made sexual advances toward a staff member and sought to retaliate when she refused.
In a court filing Saturday, the Helsinki Commission disputed the sexual harassment allegations by Winsome Packer, the commission's staff representative in Vienna from 2008-2010 when Hastings, a Florida Democrat, was co-chairman. The commission's filing said that specific instances in which Hastings hugged Packer, gave her a music box or asked to see her apartment were out of general benevolence toward staff. (AP)
