The FBI has agreed to pay over $22 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by 34 women who were dismissed from the FBI’s training academy in Quantico, Virginia.
The lawsuit alleged that the female recruits were subjected to dismissal, harassment, and a hostile work environment during their training at the academy.
Driving the news: The harassment included sexually charged comments about their appearance, false allegations of infidelity, and instructors making comments about the need for the recruits to take contraception to “control their moods.”
- One woman reported being told to “smile more” and being subjected to repeated sexual advances, while another reported an instructor leering at her and staring at her chest.
The big picture: The settlement provisions included the opportunity for the plaintiffs to continue training toward becoming agents and “guaranteed placement” in one of their top three preferred field offices if they pass.
- An internal watchdog report in 2022 confirmed many of the allegations in the lawsuit.
- The settlement came amid a flurry of sexual misconduct claims within the FBI, resulting in the bureau announcing reforms, such as a 24/7 tip line, intended to take a tougher stand against agents found to have committed misconduct and to help accusers.
- The settlement marks one of the biggest lawsuit settlements in the history of the bureau and is in line with the Justice Department’s recent $138.7 million settlement with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of mishandling allegations of sexual assault against the sports doctor Larry Nassar.
