Victims of ex-senator deserve better: lawyer

A lawyer for some of the victims of ex-senator Don Meredith says someone in the upper chamber needs to show courage and bring an end to seven years of deliberations over how to address the harm he caused.

The Senate's internal economy committee met behind closed doors Thursday and agreed with the recommendations of an independent evaluator that the victims should be compensated, but also said they still need to consider more of the report.

The evaluator had been tasked to speak with six former employees in Meredith's office and review all materials from a four-year investigation by the Senate ethics officer.

That investigation concluded last year that Meredith had repeatedly bullied, threatened and intimidated his staff, and that he had also touched, kissed and propositioned some of them.

Lawyer Brian Mitchell says the Senate's decision to provide compensation is positive.

But he says the victims — and the public — deserve a process that is transparent and accountable and that's not what is taking place.