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Caught Our Eye

Farenthold office gets another new communications director

Posted by Jenna Ebersole on Dec. 22, 2014

Rep. Blake Farenthold's (R-Texas) office has churned through another communications director, even as one who had the job earlier this year ignited a scandal for the lawmaker. 

Farenthold hired his first male communications director this month after a cycle of five young, female staffers had the title since he took office in 2011. The office's most recent communications director, Lee Towns, started the job in August following the departure of Lauren Greene.

Greene filed a lawsuit against the congressman earlier this month, alleging Farenthold made sexual comments, created a hostile work environment and improperly fired her. Greene served as communications director for about the same amount of time as Towns, around six months, but also was Farenthold's new media director for a year before she got the job. 

Three other women have also held the communications director job since 2011 for Farenthold, working roughly a year or less each. Six other Hill staffers, all male, have also cycled through Farenthold's office in the chief of staff job since 2011 including the current chief of staff.

It is unclear exactly when the most recent communications staff change occurred. New Communications Director Michael Rekola, who was deputy press secretary for Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), did not respond to requests for comment about the timing and staff turnover. 

Farenthold also has other communications help amidst the scandal, according to The Texas Tribune. The congressman's office last month retained Kurt Bardella, who has a private communications firm.