The Insider

As for Stockman, Brass says he was unaware of the congressman's involvement in the case, even though non-lawyer Stockman's complaint to the EEOC's Casellas echoes Brass's argument regarding the applicability of federal law to same-sex sexual harassment. Brass, however, says he knew Stapp officials were going to contact their congressman for help, and he views Stockman's intervention as a perfectly legitimate service on behalf of a constituent.

Neither Stapp officials nor Stockman, who's battling to keep his seat in a December 10 runoff with Democrat Nick Lampson, responded to inquiries from The Insider regarding the company's contributions to Stockman, the fuels contract dispute or the sexual harassment case.

Harriet Ehrlich, the director of the EEOC's Houston office, suggests that Stockman's allegiances in the Stapp case are a bit skewed.

"I would hope that public officials would try and stop this gross behavior," says Ehrlich, "instead of going to bat for the wrongdoers.