FBI's liaison to Congress cited for misconduct in Nevada

The former top federal prosecutor in Nevada has been cited for misconduct in an 8-year-old sex discrimination case.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission determined earlier this year that a former female prosecutor was subjected to sex discrimination and retaliation while Greg Brower was in charge of the U.S. attorney's office in Nevada from January 2008 to October 2009, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Thursday.

Brower is currently the FBI's top liaison with Congress during its investigation in Russian election meddling. He was also a former Nevada legislator.

The eight-page decision by the commission issued May 19 was obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. It supports an administrative judge's opinion that Brower acted hostile toward the prosecutor after she complained that he made a sexist remark.

It also criticized the office for being slow to transfer her after she made the report.

"While acts of discrimination and retaliation are no doubt common within the federal service, it is extremely rare to see such a finding against the U.S. attorney's office, which is charged with upholding the laws of this country," said Las Vegas attorney Adam Levine, who has advised clients in the federal equal employment opportunity process. "If any agency should be aware of the prohibition against retaliation, it is the U.S. attorney's office."

Brower and a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office declined to comment.

Under the decision, the Justice Department will have to pay the former prosecutor a total of $287,998 in legal fees, costs and damages. Brower and other managers involved in the case are required to attend anti-sex discrimination and retaliation training.

The U.S. attorney's office is expected to post the order explaining the commission findings and submit a compliance report.

It is unclear whether Brower will be disciplined now that he is working for the Department of Justice again.

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Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com