The Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against State College, Pennsylvania, landlord Venkatachalam Mani, alleging he sexually harassed a female tenant and retaliated against her when she refused his advances, violating the federal Fair Housing Act. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, states that Mani made unwelcome sexual advances and physically touched the tenant without her consent. According to federal prosecutors, after the tenant rejected his advances, Mani ignored her repeated maintenance requests. The Justice Department will uphold the rights of female tenants to housing without the threat of sexual harassment by a landlord.” U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania echoed those concerns, stating that attempts to exploit tenants for sexual favors, as well as sexual assault and landlord retaliation, will not be tolerated in the district.