{"slug":"mark-meadows-house-ethics-reproval-2018","title":"House Ethics Committee Reproves Mark Meadows Over Handling of Aide's Sexual Harassment, Orders $40,625 Repayment (2018)","date":"2018-11-16","lastUpdated":"2026-10-09","description":"On November 16, 2018, the House Committee on Ethics unanimously issued a report serving as a reproval of Representative Mark Meadows. It found he violated House rules by failing to take appropriate steps to keep his office free from discrimination after female staff complained in October 2014 about his chief of staff, Kenny West, and by paying West for months when West's duties did not match his pay, including two months of salary after West resigned. Meadows was required to reimburse the U.S. Treasury $40,625.02. He became White House Chief of Staff on March 31, 2020.","summary":"The Committee found that after receiving complaints in October 2014, Meadows restricted West from the offices but kept him as chief of staff with full salary and supervisory authority until April 2015, ignored an independent investigator's recommendation to terminate him, then kept paying him as \"Senior Advisor\" and as \"severance\" through August 15, 2015. The Committee found violations of clause 8 of the Code of Official Conduct (compensation not commensurate with duties) and of House rules against discrimination.","category":"civil-rights","severity":"pre-office","ongoing":false,"sources":[{"url":"https://ethics.house.gov/committee-reports/matter-allegations-relating-representative-mark-meadows/","title":"In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Mark Meadows (H. Rept. 115-1042)","publisher":"U.S. House Committee on Ethics"},{"url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-115hrpt1042/pdf/CRPT-115hrpt1042.pdf","title":"H. Rept. 115-1042, full report (GPO print)","publisher":"U.S. Government Publishing Office"},{"url":"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-ethics-committee-releases-reports-on-sexual-harassment-by-representative-staffer/","title":"House Ethics Committee releases reports on sexual harassment by representative, staffer","publisher":"CBS News"}],"draft":false,"status":"published","tags":["sexual-harassment","House-Ethics","misuse-of-funds","pre-office"],"relatedEntries":[],"timeline":[{"date":"2014-10-01","title":"Staff complaints","summary":"Female employees in Meadows' office complain to him about chief of staff Kenny West's conduct (the report dates the complaints to October 2014)."},{"date":"2015-04-01","title":"West demoted","summary":"In April 2015 Meadows changes West's title to Senior Advisor, keeping the same salary (the report gives the month, not the day)."},{"date":"2015-08-15","title":"Last salary payment","summary":"West, who resigned on May 21, 2015, is paid his full salary through this date."},{"date":"2015-10-24","title":"Office of Congressional Ethics review opens","summary":"OCE begins a preliminary review; it later finds substantial reason to believe House rules were violated and refers the matter on March 18, 2016."},{"date":"2018-11-16","title":"Ethics Committee report","summary":"The House Committee on Ethics issues H. Rept. 115-1042, serving as a reproval and requiring repayment of $40,625.02."}],"location":{"name":"U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C."},"custom":{"posture":"documented","structuredPerpetrators":[{"name":"Mark Meadows","role":"U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 11th district","institution":"U.S. House of Representatives"}],"updateLog":[{"date":"2026-10-09","summary":"Added for the Before Office record. Meadows first joined the administration as White House Chief of Staff on March 31, 2020."}],"keyPoints":["In October 2014 several female employees complained to Meadows about his chief of staff, Kenny West, including unwanted touching, inappropriate staring and unprofessional comments","Meadows restricted West from the congressional offices but kept him as chief of staff, with full salary and supervisory responsibilities, until April 2015, and did not act on an independent investigator's recommendation to terminate him","West was demoted to Senior Advisor at the same salary, resigned on May 21, 2015, and was paid as \"severance\" through August 15, 2015","The Committee found Meadows violated clause 8 of the Code of Official Conduct by paying compensation not commensurate with duties, and violated House rules by failing to ensure his office was free from discrimination","The Committee voted unanimously to issue the report as a reproval and required Meadows to reimburse the U.S. Treasury $40,625.02"],"verificationStatus":"cross-referenced","postureNote":"House Committee on Ethics, H. Rept. 115-1042, \"In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Mark Meadows\" (November 16, 2018), adopted unanimously; serves as a reproval and required repayment of $40,625.02.","subjects":["mark-meadows"],"legalStatus":"official-finding"}}