Congresswoman Asks For Investigation

Colorado Representative Marilyn Musgrave has asked the FAA's Marion Blakey to personally investigate sexual harassment allegations against an FAA supervisor.

A letter from Musgrave to Blakey, obtained by the Longmont Daily Times-Call, claims Paul Conway, an operations supervisor at Denver's Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) has been repeatedly reported for sexual harassment. In her letter, Musgrave asks why Conway hasn't been fired despite complaints going back to 1997.

The Times-Call also received a copy of a letter of reprimand Conway received from a Denver air traffic manager in March 2005 for "inappropriate sexual conduct by a supervisor." The reprimand directed that Conway serve a two-week suspension.

According to the Times-Call, the reprimand came after three separate incidents involving Conway's inappropriate behavior with subordinates.

Musgrave berated the two-week suspension as "insulting" compared to the offenses saying, “Positions at the FAA are of utmost importance to our nation and any compromise of an employee’s integrity is a threat to our public safety and national security.”

She also questions why Conway continues to earn more than $150,000 annually despite what's happened.

Musgrave spokesman Aaron Johnson wonders, “Why is it that what he's done is not cause for dismissal? What does it take to get dismissed from a federal agency?”

He says Musgrave isn't looking to get Conway fired immediately, she just wants him suspended until a more thorough investigation of the allegations can be completed.

FMI: www.faa.gov