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Published On: Sun, Sep 2nd, 2012

Suzanne Barr, ICE Chief of Staff, resigns after allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct

ICE Chief of Staff Suzanne Barr has resigned following allegations by several subordinates of sexual misconduct, harassment and lewd behavior.

The ICE officer submitted her resignation letter (excerpts published by FoxNews.com) to ICE Director John Morton, despite still claiming the allegations are “unfounded” saying she doesn’t want to “distract from the agency’s mission.”

“In recent weeks, I have been the focus of unfounded allegations designed to destroy my reputation, but of greater concern however, is the threat these allegations represent to the reputation of this agency and the men and women who proudly serve their country by advancing ICE’s mission,” Barr wrote.

“As such, I feel it is incumbent upon me to take every step necessary to prevent further harm to the agency and to prevent this from further distracting from our critical work. Therefore, it is with great regret that I submit my resignation as Chief of Staff for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

Suzanne Barr photo/Homeland Security

Three weeks ago Barr went on leave as the questions of her conduct was raised in a lawsuit filed by an ICE official. The lawsuit alleges discrimination and retaliation, listed among the complaints that Barr cultivated a “frat-house”-style work environment.

That accusation was supplemented by two affidavits recounting incidents allegedly involving Barr in 2009.

In the affidavits, one of the ICE employees claimed that in October 2009, while in a discussion about Halloween plans, the individual witnessed Barr turn to a senior ICE employee and say: “You a sexy” (expletive deleted).

“She then looked at his crotch and asked, ‘How long is it anyway?'” according to the affidavit.

“Several employees laughed nervously,” the affidavit said.

The names of the workers making the claims were redacted.

The other account recalled a trip to Colombia in late 2009, attended by Morton, Barr and Ray Parmer, who is ICE special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.

The account said Parmer and Barr were “drinking heavily” at the house of the deputy chief of mission for the U.S. Embassy there. It said Parmer took the BlackBerry of another employee, Peter Vincent, and sent “lewd messages” to Barr.

The affidavit went on to say: “During this party, Suzanne Barr approached me and offered to” perform oral sex.

“The resignation of Suzanne Barr raises the most serious questions about management practices and personnel policies at the Department of Homeland Security,” House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King, R-N.Y., said in a statement.

He said his committee would “intensify” its review of the case and “DHS personnel practices across the board.”

 

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About the Author

- Writer and Co-Founder of The Global Dispatch, Brandon has been covering news, offering commentary for years, beginning professionally in 2003 on Crazed Fanboy before expanding into other blogs and sites. Appearing on several radio shows, Brandon has hosted Dispatch Radio, written his first novel (The Rise of the Templar) and completed the three years Global University program in Ministerial Studies to be a pastor. To Contact Brandon email [email protected] ATTN: BRANDON

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