- Court documents show former Rep. Blake Farenthold’s derogatory nickname for the media, which he partly blames for his downfall after a sexual harassment scandal.
- In text messages and emails that are filed as evidence for a lawsuit over his new job, Farenthold refers to the media as “f tards.”
- He also places blame on the “deep state,” the House Ethics Committee, and the #MeToo Movement for forcing his resignation from Congress after it was revealed he used $84,000 of taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment complaint against him.
The day disgraced Rep. Blake Farenthold stepped down from Congress, court records show, he texted a friend: “The f tards won.”
HuffPost reporter Jennifer Bendery obtained 79 pages of court documents that show Farenthold explaining in a deposition he was using “f-tards” as a derogatory nickname for the media, which he partly blames for his downfall after a sexual harassment scandal.
When asked for a synonym “in case the judge or the ladies and gentlemen of the jury have never heard this term before,” Farenthold responded “Ass,” then amended his answer: “I guess it would be plural, A-S-S-E-S.”
What is a "f tard," you may ask? And who is he referring to? Here's him in a deposition this month saying he's talking about the media and reporters are A-S-S-E-S. https://t.co/UtAZQATTGk pic.twitter.com/HJw5MvJY2b
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) August 19, 2018
In emails and texts he had submitted as part of the case, Farenthold repeatedly used the word "f-tard," the same term a former aide told CNN in 2017 the congressman would regularly use to degrade his staff.
His former spokeswoman accused him of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and a hostile work environment. Farenthold used $84,000 of taxpayer money to settle the claim in 2014.
Aside from the media, the documents show Farenthold placing blame on the "deep state," the House Ethics Committee, and the #MeToo Movement for forcing his resignation from Congress.