FBI supervisors who sexually harass subordinates probably will be fired in the future, FBI Director Louis Freeh says.
Freeh on Wednesday announced that employees who engage in sexual harassment and discrimination can expect the maximum penalties."I recognize that the severity of punishments I am announcing is a departure from past practice," Freeh said. "It is, however, fully consistent with my often stated views about the high standards of professional conduct I expect from each FBI employee, whether agent or support. There is simply no room in the great organization for any kind of harassment or discrimination. None will be tolerated."
But Freeh announced lesser discipline in an existing sexual harassment case from the FBI's Santa Ana, Calif., office. Two female agents in that office filed a lawsuit last March alleging that their supervisor, John Carpenter, fondled and verbally harassed them.
The lawsuit, the first of its kind by active agents, was settled last May. Carpenter's discipline was decided in the past couple of weeks, according to law enforcement officials, who declined to be identified by name.
"The punishment was commensurate with the most severe discipline imposed in other comparable cases," Freeh said.
Neither Freeh nor bureau spokesmen would specify the exact penalty, but law enforcement officials said Carpenter was suspended for 45 days without pay, lowered in rank and reassigned to the nearby Long Beach, Calif., office.
Carpenter was not immediately available for comment.
One of the female FBI agents, Heather Power-Anderson, 38, of Mission Viejo, received $192,500 plus additional time off; the other, Boni Carr Alduenda, 40, of Laguna Niguel, got $155,000, according to their attorney, Christopher B. Mears.