CEDAR RAPIDS – This week, Peter E. Deegan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, announced that he will be using all available tools to combat sexual harassment in housing. The United States Attorney’s Office will target unscrupulous landlords who attempt to take advantage of the pandemic by demanding sexual favors or sexually harassing tenants who, because of the pandemic or for any other reason, are unable to make timely rent payments.
As a result of the measures taken to slow the spread of COVID-19, many Iowans have lost jobs wages. Some tenants may be unable to make rent payments. While many landlords have responded with understanding, there are reports of landlords across the country who have attempted to exploit the crisis by responding to cash-strapped tenants with demands for sex acts or other inappropriate sexual favors. Such conduct is not only despicable and wrong, it is illegal.
“My office will work with all available partners, including state, local, and tribal officials, to address sexual harassment in housing, especially during this national crisis,” said Peter E. Deegan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. “We will use every means at our disposal to investigate, prosecute, and hold responsible anyone who sexually harasses tenants or prospective tenants. Combatting sexual harassment associated with housing has been a priority for the Department of Justice for years and it remains a priority during this unique time in history. Such conduct cannot be tolerated.”
To report instances of sexual harassment in housing, individuals with knowledge of wrongdoing can call the Department of Justice’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative at 1-844-380-6178 or email fairhousing@usdoj.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office will target unscrupulous landlords who attempt to take advantage of the pandemic by demanding sexual favors or sexually harassing tenants who, because of the pandemic or for any other reason, are unable to make timely rent payments.
You must be one of those “unscrupolous landlords”. Poor little snowflake.
Russ is that you?
Great. Another tool for the losers to get out of paying what they owe. Now you’re going to have every welfare woman come out of the woodwork claiming her landlord hit on her, or else threatening her landlord that she’ll make a complaint unless he gives her free housing, grocery money, and probably a new car. Believe it or not, landlords have to make a living too.
Screw them all
Yeah, right. Most these slumlords are just that, so they can demand sex they can’t get unless they force somebody. They’re not physically big or strong enough, so they do this. Ugly pukes.
Yeah. And the loser scum they rent to are saints. NOT!
You must be one of those “unscrupolous landlords”. Poor little snowflake.