GOP Sen Launches Effort to Block Govt Pensions for Child Molesters

A Republican senator wants to prevent convicted child molesters from receiving federal government pensions with a new piece of legislation.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., introduced the Denying Pensions to Convicted Child Molesters Act during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing Wednesday.

The idea for the bill, according to a release posted to Daines's Senate website, came from the sentencing of Indian Health Service pediatrician Stanley Patrick Weber in January for sexually abusing boys. Weber is eligible to receive roughly $100,000 for life as part of his government pension, which Daines wants taken away.

"Despite numerous reported suspicions of Weber's inappropriate behavior, IHS turned a blind eye and enabled Weber to continue his unspeakable actions for years," Daines said. "It's shocking that a government employee can still receive a pension after being convicted of sexually abusing children. That is unacceptable, which is why I will take action and introduce a bill today to fix this flawed system."

The Wall Street Journal and PBS Frontline reported on Weber's sizable pension in February.

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