Congress Investigates Harassment Charges at NIH
Allegations by female officers of the U.S. National Institutes of Health that they were sexually harassed and their concerns about safety in human tests were dismissed have prompted investigations by congressional committees.
One woman at the country's top health research agency testified that hostility was so bad at the NIH that employees were scared to bring up concerns about safety in human experiments, the Associated Press reported.
Female officers have also detailed charges of sexual harassment, including profane e-mails and unwanted kisses. In one alleged incident, a male supervisor sent a red bra to a former female subordinate after the two had had a falling out, the AP said.
The Senate Finance Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee have launched investigations. The NIH said it's cooperating with Congress and is also doing its own investigation of sexual harassment allegations, the news service said.
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