Mel Watt, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), is reportedly being investigated for alleged sexual harassment of an employee.
According to a Politico report, the complaint, filed under the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, alleges that Watt repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances when the employee tried to discuss promotion and salary issues.
The employee’s lawyer, Diane Seltzer Torre, confirmed the EEOA complaint to Politico.
“There is an investigation in progress,” Torre told the news outlet. “Our preference is to let that investigation proceed.”
Watt, a former Democratic U.S. House member from North Carolina who was appointed to head up the FHFA by President Barack Obama, says the release of case records to Politico was politically motivated.
“The selective leaks related to this matter are obviously intended to embarrass or to lead to an unfounded or political conclusion,” Watt said in a statement emailed to Politico. “However, I am confident that the investigation currently in progress will confirm that I have not done anything contrary to law.”
Watt’s term as director of the FHFA, which oversees government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, ends on Jan. 1. He is one of only a few high-level officials named by Obama who remain in office.
According to the Politico report, the employee claims that she was denied a promotion at the agency because she reported the harassment.
Claims under the EEOA are not made public.