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Blake Farenthold

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Blake Farenthold
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 27th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded bySolomon Ortiz
Personal details
Born
Randolph Blake Farenthold

(1961-12-12) December 12, 1961 (age 62)
Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDebbie Farenthold
Children2
EducationUniversity of Texas, Austin (BS)
St. Mary's University, Texas (JD)
WebsiteHouse website

Randolph Blake Farenthold[1] (born December 12, 1961) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 27th congressional district since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, Farenthold co-hosted a conservative talk radio program before he began his political career.

In 2014, Farenthold was sued by a former staffer, who accused the congressman of gender discrimination, saying that he created a hostile work environment and improperly fired her after she complained. The sexual harassment lawsuit was settled out of court in November 2015 on confidential terms. In December 2017, it was reported that the settlement, for $84,000, was made with taxpayer money.[2][3] On December 14, 2017, Farenthold announced that he will retire from Congress at the end of his current term, and will not seek re-election in 2018.[4][5]

Early life and education

Farenthold was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, the son of Mary Sue (née Ogg) and George Randolph "Randy" Farenthold. His wealthy paternal grandfather, George Edward Farenthold, was a Belgian immigrant who was the descendant of an aristocratic industrialist family and worked in the oil industry in Texas.[6][7] Farenthold attended Incarnate Word Academy and the University of Texas at Austin where he received a B.S. degree in Radio, Television, and Film. He received a J.D. degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio,[8] and was admitted to the Texas Bar.[9]

Career

Farenthold's pre-political career includes working as a radio disc jockey in high school and college, seven years of practicing law at the Kleberg Law Firm in Corpus Christi, and founding Farenthold Consulting LLC, a computer consulting and web design firm.

Farenthold co-hosted Lago in the Morning, a conservative talk radio program on KKTX radio until he began his political campaign.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2010 § District 27

Farenthold defeated incumbent Democratic Rep. Solomon Ortiz by 799 votes on election night.[10] Ortiz asked for a manual recount. On Monday, November 22, Ortiz conceded the race to Farenthold. Farenthold's final margin of victory over Ortiz was 47.85 to 47.1 percent held.[11] His margin of victory was 799 votes.[12] Ortiz had represented the district since its creation in 1982.

2012
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2012 § District 27

Redistricting after the 2010 census made Farenthold's district significantly more Republican. His old district had been 70 percent Latino, but the new map shifted most of the Latino areas to the newly created 34th district. To make up for the loss in population, his district was shifted well to the north and east, absorbing some heavily Republican territory near Houston and Austin.

He defeated Democratic nominee Rose Meza Harrison 57-39 percent.[13]

2014
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2014 § District 27

Farenthold was not challenged in the Republican primary. In the general election, he defeated Democrat Wesley Reed by a margin of 83,342 to 44,152 (63.6% to 33.7%).[14]

Farenthold's official portrait for the 114th session
2016
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2016 § District 27

Farenthold won re-nomination in the March 1 Republican primary with 42,872 votes (56 percent) to 33,699 (44 percent) for his challenger, Gregg Patrick Deeb (born c. 1964) of Corpus Christi, who formerly lived in South Carolina.[15] In the general election held on November 8, Farenthold defeated the Democrat Raul "Roy" Barrera, who had won his party nomination on March 1 with 16,140 votes (50.3 percent) over two opponents.[16] Farenthold polled 142,251 votes (61.7 percent) to Barrera's 88,329 (38.3 percent).[17]

Farenthold has joined the Republican Study Committee, as well as the Tea Party Caucus. Since redistricting in 2011, his district runs along the middle Texas Gulf coast from Corpus Christi to Bay City and inland to Luling, and includes Aransas, Calhoun, Jackson, Lavaca, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Wharton, and parts of Bastrop, Caldwell, and Gonzales counties.

Committee assignments

Political positions

Internet

Having used the Internet since the mid-1980s,[18] Farenthold received praise from the online privacy community when he introduced bipartisan legislation that would prevent states from forcing companies to weaken encryption for law enforcement purposes.[19] However, Farenthold voted to repeal an FCC Internet privacy rule that would have prohibited Internet service providers from selling the browsing history of their customers without customers' consent.[20]

Donald Trump

Farenthold endorsed Trump in the 2016 presidential race.[21] After the Donald Trump and Billy Bush recording was made public, Farenthold was asked what it would take for him to rescind his endorsement, and whether Trump saying "I really like raping women" would be sufficient, Farenthold said that he "would have to consider it."[21] Farenthold later apologized, saying "I apologize for my failure to immediately condemn anyone who would say something as outrageous as they like raping women... I do not, and have not ever condoned rape or violence against women. That is not the kind of man I believe Donald Trump to be."[21]

He supported President Donald Trump's 2017 executive order to impose a temporary ban on entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, saying "we must be cautious who we allow into our country."[22]

Ethics

In January 2017, Farenthold voted in favor of gutting the powers of the Office of Congressional Ethics, supporting a measure that would remove the office's independence by placing it under the jurisdiction of the Republican-led House Ethics Committee. Following a backlash, the decision was reversed.[23]

Health care

On May 4, 2017, Farenthold voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and pass the American Health Care Act.[24][25] In a radio interview in July 2017, he said it was "absolutely repugnant" that the Affordable Care Act had not been repealed yet. In particular, he criticized "some female senators from the Northeast," and stated "if it was a guy from south Texas, I might ask him to step outside and settle this Aaron Burr-style."[26][27]

2016 election conspiracy theories

In a May 2017 appearance on CNN, Farenthold publicly doubted the Russian hack of Democratic Party servers and instead promoted an alternate position held by the former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray that the hack was an "inside job." When pressed by journalist John Berman, Farenthold defended his statement by saying that there were "Things circulating on the internet." Farenthold's claim contradicted testimony from former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan and unsubstantiated assertions by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and CIA.[28][29][30] Farenholdt's statement was criticized by the editorial board of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, who called it "Farenthold's latest new low" and said "Farenthold's antics are becoming increasingly cartoonish."[31]

Personal life

Farenthold lives with his wife Debbie and two daughters Morgan and Amanda in Corpus Christi. He is the former step-grandson of Sissy Farenthold who married and divorced his grandfather, George Farenthold.[6]

In 1972, when Farenthold was ten years old, his father disappeared and was later found dead, his body having washed ashore after being weighed down with a cement block and deposited in Corpus Christi Bay.[32] The gangland-style murder was the work of enemies of the elder Farenthold, who feared he would testify against a group of con artists who had tried to defraud him out of $100,000.[6]

In 2010, images of Farenthold dressed in one-piece fleece "ducky" pajamas alongside women in lingerie emerged on the website thecrushgirls.com. Farenthold's Democratic challenger subsequently ran a political ad highlighting the unusual nature of the images.[33]

Allegations of inappropriate behavior

Lauren Greene

In 2014, Farenthold was sued by a former staffer, Lauren Greene, who accused the congressman of gender discrimination, saying that he created a hostile work environment and improperly fired her after she complained.[34][35] Greene said another Farenthold aide told her the lawmaker said he had “sexual fantasies” and “wet dreams” about Greene. She also claimed that Farenthold "regularly drank to excess" and told her in February 2014 that he was "estranged from his wife and had not had sex with her in years."[2]

When she complained about comments Farenthold and a male staffer made to her, Greene said the congressman improperly fired her. She filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, but the case was later dropped after both parties reached a private settlement.

The sexual harassment lawsuit was settled out of court in November 2015 on confidential terms.[36][37] In December 2017, it was reported that the settlement, for $84,000, was made with taxpayer money.[2]

Michael Rekola

In December 2017, Michael Rekola, a former senior aide and communications director to Farenthold, alleged that the congressman was verbally abusive and sexually demeaning, and described his congressional office as an intensely hostile environment with Farenthold often making comments about women’s physical features, including their breasts or behinds.[38] Past co-workers and relatives have corroborated Rekola's story, some having first hand accounts of Farenthold subjecting his staff "to a stream of angry behavior...screaming fits of rage, slamming fists on desks and castigating aides", and regularly using profane slurs to describe those who worked in his office.[39] Farenthold has denied the use of sexual insults lodged against him, but has admitted to the use of vulgar language, claiming that it was "in jest".[40]

Farenthold announced on December 14, 2017, that he would retire and not seek reelection to his seat in 2018.[4][5]

Electoral history

2010 27th Congressional District of Texas Elections[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Blake Farenthold 50,954 47.85
Democratic Solomon Ortiz 50,155 47.10
Libertarian Ed Mishou 5,372 5.04
Total votes 106,599 100.0
2012 27th Congressional District of Texas Elections[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Blake Farenthold (Incumbent) 120,684 56.75
Democratic Rose Meza Harrison 83,395 39.22
Independent Bret Baldwin 5,354 2.52
Libertarian Corrie Byrd 3,218 1.51
Total votes 212,651 100.0
2014 27th Congressional District of Texas Elections[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Blake Farenthold (Incumbent) 83,342 63.60
Democratic Wesley Reed 44,152 33.69
Libertarian Roxanne Simonson 3,553 2.71
Total votes 131,047 100
2016 27th Congressional District of Texas Elections[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Blake Farenthold (Incumbent) 142,251 61.69
Democratic Wesley Reed 88,329 38.31
Total votes 230,580 100

References

  1. ^ Representative Randolph Blake Farenthold (Blake) (R-Texas, 27th) Biography from LegiStorm.
  2. ^ a b c Bade, Rachael (December 1, 2017). "Lawmaker behind secret $84K sexual harassment settlement unmasked". Politico.
  3. ^ The New York Times, YAMICHE ALCINDOR and SHERYL GAY STOLBERG, December 1, 2017, Taxpayers Paid $84,000 to End Sex Harassment Claim Against Texas Lawmaker, Retrieved December 3, 2017, "...In 2014, the congressman’s former communications director, Lauren Greene, accused him of regularly making comments to gauge her interest in a sexual relationship....Farenthold of drinking “to excess” on numerous occasions..."
  4. ^ a b Quinn, Melissa (December 14, 2017). "Blake Farenthold to retire from Congress amid allegations of sexual misconduct, 'abusive' behavior". Washington Examiner. Washington, DC. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Schneider, Elena (December 14, 2017). "Farenthold won't seek reelection". Politico. Washington, DC. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Draper, Robert (April 1992). "The Blood of the Farentholds". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Blake Farenthold ancestry". ancestry.com. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  8. ^ Blake Farenthold Campaign Website Archived November 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Accessed on November 3, 2010
  9. ^ R. Blake Farenthold, Bar # 06814500, State Bar of Texas.
  10. ^ Farenthold Ousts Ortiz in Tight Race, Accessed on November 3, 2010
  11. ^ a b "2010 General Election, Election Night Returns, Unofficial Elections Results As Of: 11/3/2010 12:14:58 PM". Texas Secretary of State. 2010-11-03. Archived from the original on 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  12. ^ Chris Gentilviso (23 March 2014). "Bill Maher's Campaign To Find The Worst Member Of Congress Is Underway". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 2, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2014-03-19. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ Hendricks, Dave (4 November 2014). "Farenthold retains congressional seat". Corpus Christie Caller Times. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  15. ^ "Republican primary returns". Texas Secretary of State. March 1, 2016. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Democratic primary returns". Texas Secretary of State. March 1, 2016. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Election Results". Texas Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  18. ^ Farenthold, R. Blake (1985-10-09). "Kermit on The Source". Info-Kermit Digest. Kermit Project, Columbia University. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  19. ^ Farivar, Cyrus (February 10, 2016). "House bill would kill state, local bills that aim to weaken smartphone crypto". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2016-02-10. Retrieved 2016-02-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Almost every U.S. representative from Central Texas voted for repeal of Internet privacy rule". Austin American-Statesman. March 29, 2017.
  21. ^ a b c Rudner, Jordan (2016-10-11). "If Trump said he really liked to rape women, would you endorse him? Maybe, says Texas lawmaker". Dallas News. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  22. ^ Blake, Aaron (January 31, 2017). "Whip Count: Here's where Republicans stand on Trump's controversial travel ban". Washington Post.
  23. ^ Moritz, John C. (January 3, 2017). "Farenthold among Republicans voting to gut ethics panel". Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
  24. ^ Soffen, Kim; Cameron, Darla; Uhrmacher, Kevin (May 4, 2017). "How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  25. ^ "How every member voted on health care bill". CNN. May 5, 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  26. ^ "The Latest: Lawmaker blames female senators for failed bill". Associated Press. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  27. ^ "Bob Jones 7 - 21 - 17 27th District Congressman Blake Farenthold". SoundCloud. 1440 KEYS Corpus Christi. July 21, 2017. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  28. ^ Chris Cillizza, A Texas Republican Congressman just said something deeply irresponsible about Seth Rich's murder, CNN (May 24, 2017).
  29. ^ Philip Bump, Another elected official cites 'the Internet' in defense of his bad arguments, Washington Post (May 24, 2017).
  30. ^ Matt Woolbright, Farenthold: DNC staffer killing needs federal investigation, Corpus Christi Caller-Times (May 24, 2017).
  31. ^ Editorial: Farenthold's latest new low reflects upon his constituents, Corpus Christi Caller-Times (May 25, 2017).
  32. ^ "Millionaire Slain; Found on Beach". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. 7 June 1972. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  33. ^ Siegel, Elyse (16 October 2010). "GOP Candidate Blake Farenthold Targeted After Being Caught in Ducky Pajamas With Scantily Clad Women". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  34. ^ Bresnahan, John (16 December 2014). "Ex-spokeswoman sues Blake Farenthold, alleges discrimination". Politico. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  35. ^ Hartmann, Margaret (December 17, 2014). "Congressman Who Owns 'Blow-me.org' Sued for Sexual Harassment". New York Magazine.
  36. ^ Bowman, Bridget (November 18, 2015). "Farenthold Sexual Harassment Case Is Settled Out of Court". Roll Call.
  37. ^ Diaz, Kevin (November 19, 2015). "Farenthold settles sexual discrimination suit". Houston Chronicle.
  38. ^ Ruiz-Grossman, Sarah (2017-12-14). "Rep. Farenthold's Former Aide Describes Abusive Behavior In CNN Report". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  39. ^ Reporter, MJ Lee, CNN National Politics. "Ex-Farenthold aide shares new details of vulgar and abusive behavior". CNN. Retrieved 2017-12-14. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ "GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold admits to regularly calling staffers one particular vulgar name, says it was 'in jest'". 14 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  41. ^ "Race Summary Report 2012 General Election". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 2016-02-04. Retrieved 10 February 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  42. ^ "Race Summary Report 2014 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 2016-01-19. Retrieved 10 February 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  43. ^ "Race Summary Report 2016 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved 2 January 2017.

External links

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 27th congressional district
2011–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Representatives by seniority
206th 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blake_Farenthold&oldid=815622087"