(DailyChive.com) – Former Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold, who resigned in disgrace after using $84,000 in taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit, has died at age 63 without ever repaying the public funds he promised to return.
Key Takeaways
- Blake Farenthold died on June 20, 2025, at age 63 from a heart attack after battling chronic liver disease
- The four-term Republican congressman resigned in 2018 amid sexual harassment allegations from a former staffer
- Farenthold used $84,000 in taxpayer money to settle the sexual harassment lawsuit but never repaid it despite promising to do so
- His congressional career began with an upset victory over a long-serving Democrat in 2010
- Despite the scandal ending his political career, he was known for securing funding for infrastructure projects in his district
Taxpayer-Funded Settlement Haunted His Legacy
Blake Farenthold, the disgraced former Republican congressman from Texas who used taxpayer dollars to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit, died on June 20, 2025, at a Corpus Christi hospital. According to multiple reports, the 63-year-old suffered a heart attack after struggling with chronic liver disease. His death marks the final chapter in a political career that began with promise but ended in scandal when he resigned from Congress in 2018 rather than face the conclusions of a House Ethics Committee investigation into his conduct.
Farenthold represented Texas’s 27th congressional district for nearly eight years after his upset victory in 2010 against long-serving Democratic incumbent Solomon Ortiz. During his time in office, he served on several key committees, including House Oversight, Judiciary, and Transportation. While he managed to secure significant federal funding for infrastructure projects in his district, particularly the channel-deepening initiatives for the Port of Corpus Christi, his accomplishments were ultimately overshadowed by the sexual harassment scandal that forced him from office.
Sexual Harassment Allegations and Cover-Up
The beginning of Farenthold’s downfall came in 2014 when his former communications director, Lauren Greene, filed a lawsuit against him alleging gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and creating a hostile work environment. The lawsuit contained disturbing details, including claims that Farenthold told another staffer about having “sexual fantasies” and “wet dreams” about Greene. She also alleged that the congressman engaged in excessive drinking and made inappropriate comments that created an uncomfortable workplace atmosphere.
Perhaps most damning was Greene’s assertion that she was fired in retaliation after complaining about the congressman’s misconduct. Rather than fight these allegations in court, Farenthold opted to settle the case in 2015. The settlement might have remained largely unnoticed except for one critical detail: he used $84,000 from the Congressional Office of Compliance—taxpayer money—to pay for his personal misconduct. This revelation only became public in late 2017 during the height of the #MeToo movement.
Broken Promises and Resignation
When the settlement became public knowledge, Farenthold initially attempted damage control by promising to repay the $84,000 to the U.S. Treasury. “I’m going to hand a check over this week to probably Speaker Ryan or somebody and say, ‘Here’s the amount of my settlement. Give it back to the taxpayers,'” Farenthold told a Corpus Christi television station in December 2017. This promise, which might have salvaged some of his reputation, was never fulfilled—a fact that continued to tarnish his legacy even after leaving office.
As pressure mounted, the House Ethics Committee launched a formal investigation in December 2017, citing “substantial reason to believe” the allegations against him. Facing the prospect of potentially damaging findings, Farenthold first announced he would not seek reelection in 2018. However, as the investigation progressed, he abruptly resigned on April 6, 2018, just before the Ethics Committee could release its conclusions—a move widely criticized as an attempt to avoid accountability.
Life After Congress
After his resignation, Farenthold returned to Corpus Christi and largely retreated from the national spotlight. He briefly worked as a lobbyist for the Calhoun Port Authority but was fired from that position after only a few months. He later resumed work as a conservative radio host in his hometown, attempting to rebuild his life away from Washington. During his final years, he battled increasingly serious health problems, including the heart and liver disease that eventually claimed his life.
Despite repeated calls from both Republican and Democratic colleagues to honor his commitment to repay the settlement money, Farenthold never did so. His refusal to return taxpayer funds used for his personal misconduct remains a stark example of the lack of accountability that often plagues Washington. The Congressional Accountability Act, which created the fund used to pay Farenthold’s settlement, has since been reformed to require members of Congress to personally repay any sexual harassment settlements—a change that came too late to recover the money in Farenthold’s case.
A Complicated Legacy
Farenthold’s death at 63 leaves behind a complex and troubled legacy. While some local officials in his former district acknowledged his work securing infrastructure funding that benefited the region, particularly for the Port of Corpus Christi, these accomplishments remain forever tainted by the scandal that ended his career. His case became a prominent example of how taxpayer money had been secretly used to settle sexual harassment claims against members of Congress, leading to significant reforms in how such cases are handled.
The story of Blake Farenthold serves as a cautionary tale about the abuse of power and the misuse of public funds. His failure to repay the settlement money, despite his public promise to do so, represents a final breach of trust with the taxpayers he once served. As Washington continues to grapple with issues of accountability and transparency, Farenthold’s case remains a reminder of why such reforms are necessary—and why the public deserves better from their elected officials.
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