Louisiana pays $149K to settle former Secretary of State Tom Schedler's harassment suit

Louisiana has agreed to pay nearly $150,000 to end a sexual misconduct lawsuit against a former Republican secretary of state who resigned in May, the state's highest public official felled by accusations during the #MeToo movement.

Tom Schedler, who was Louisiana's chief elections official while he held the post, will personally pay his female ex-worker $18,425 on top of the taxpayer-financed amount of $149,075, according to the state Division of Administration. The payments resolve legal claims that Schedler sexually harassed the woman when she worked for him.

With the settlement reached, a state district judge signed paperwork ending the lawsuit.

Schedler, a Republican in office since 2010, left the statewide elected position five months ago. A longtime elected official from the New Orleans suburbs, Schedler's departure came amid intensifying scrutiny of the misconduct allegations and increasing calls for him to leave the post.

Read more: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/elections/article_c08abc90-cd96-11e8-93d9-6342dc8a3d26.html