PA Senators demand transparency in Governor’s Office amidst sexual harassment allegations.
Republican women in the Pennsylvania Senate are demanding transparency from the governor’s office following the sudden resignation of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s senior adviser, Mike Vereb. This comes months after Vereb was accused of sexual harassment by a female co-worker, who claimed that his behavior forced her to quit her job.
“As elected officials, one of our primary responsibilities is to ensure the safety and well-being of the people of Pennsylvania, including the talented individuals who work for us. It is our duty as leaders to foster a safe and respectful workplace culture,” stated Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, a Republican. “The details of the sexual harassment complaint filed against Gov. Shapiro’s office are absolutely appalling.”
Ms. Ward is not only concerned about workplace practices but also wonders if these allegations have influenced budget discussions and how much taxpayer money has been used in response to the harassment claims.
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“The alleged offender remained in his influential role until he tendered his resignation, leaving the victim in an unsafe space, to fend for herself with limited options. This is unacceptable,” expressed Ms. Ward.
A phone number for Mr. Vereb was out of service on Monday.
Lack of Transparency
A former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and former officer of the West Conshohocken Police Department, Mr. Vereb has worked closely with Mr. Shapiro for years, including at the attorney general’s office when Mr. Shapiro was the chief law enforcement officer in the state.
“The lack of information or even acknowledgement by Gov. Shapiro regarding the alleged sexual harassment by one of his former top officials is humiliating to women in the workplace. It sends a message to working women that they are not truly valued,” stated state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, a Republican. “It also raises more questions than answers for Gov. Shapiro’s administration, such as how long did Gov. Shapiro know, and have taxpayers been affected? Secrecy continues to be a trend with this administration, which required staff to sign a lengthy, three-page nondisclosure agreement during the executive branch’s transition period earlier this year. This is why we need more transparency.”
She pointed out the swift repair of a portion of Interstate 95 near Philadelphia, which took place less than two weeks after a fire destroyed a vital bridge, causing road closures and detours. Typically, such a project would take months or even years due to environmental reviews, engineering, and traffic studies. However, the road was quickly repaired under emergency orders, and Mr. Shapiro has consistently highlighted this accomplishment.
“If the governor can expedite the state’s permitting process and boast about a major bridge repair in days, he needs to address why he allowed the alleged offender to remain in his taxpayer-funded role for several months without addressing this serious matter,” emphasized Ms. Phillips-Hill.
The Allegations
In the woman’s complaint to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Mr. Vereb was accused of subjecting her to lewd, misogynistic, and unwanted sexual advances during her time working for the administration, according to The Associated Press.
In a statement to the state Office of Administration on March 31, the woman expressed her fear of Mr. Vereb.
“I am scared of what he will do, the rumors he will spread. I am scared for my professional career,” she said. “I am putting everything on the line because I am afraid he will do this to someone else.”
The Epoch Times reached out to Mr. Shapiro’s office for an explanation as to why the governor kept Mr. Vereb employed in the executive office for months after learning of the alleged harassment. Manuel Bonder, spokesman for Mr. Shapiro, stated that the office does not comment on specific personnel matters but takes allegations of discrimination and harassment seriously. He provided an emailed statement.
“Robust procedures are in place for thoroughly investigating reports of discrimination and harassment—and these procedures are implemented whenever complaints of discrimination or harassment are made and provide detailed guidance to help ensure that allegations are promptly and fully investigated and that employees feel comfortable to report misconduct. These procedures expressly recognize that employees may subsequently report allegations to other entities, including the [Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission] or [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission], and that reports made to those entities are addressed in accordance with the law.”
Response From Governor
The Epoch Times requested further comment from the governor’s office, including how Mr. Shapiro responded to the allegations against his close adviser in the months leading up to Mr. Vereb’s departure, but the office did not respond.
“The sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Shapiro’s former Secretary of Legislative Affairs, Mike Vereb, are deeply troubling. The people of Pennsylvania trust us, as public officials, to work with integrity, respect, and the best interests of the people we serve in mind. When this trust is betrayed, the people deserve answers,” declared state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, a Republican. “Sexual harassment in the workplace can never be tolerated or accepted, especially in the highest office of our commonwealth. These allegations raise serious questions about the kind of workplace culture that could have turned a blind eye and enabled this kind of behavior. All victims, regardless of who they are, deserve to be heard.”
Ms. Pennycuick acknowledged that while it is impossible to control people’s behavior, leaders must take swift and appropriate action when misconduct occurs.
“In this instance, it seems that the alleged offender was allowed to remain in his role, leaving the victim vulnerable. At the same time, he continued to serve Gov. Shapiro as the lead negotiator on the budget. With this in mind, one cannot help but be concerned that the victim’s claim may not have been taken seriously or addressed promptly,” added Ms. Pennycuick. “I join the growing calls for the administration to be transparent about the allegations against Mr. Vereb. Gov. Shapiro needs to address what happened, stop presenting conflicting timelines, protect the dignity of these victims, and provide concrete steps to ensure that this kind of behavior will never be tolerated again. Only then can the administration begin to regain the public’s trust, which has been lost in this incident.”
The Epoch Times reached out to Democrat state Sens. Judy Schwank and Katie Muth, known for their support of women’s issues, for comments on this matter. However, neither of them responded.
How will the governor’s office cooperate with requests for information regarding the harassment allegations and the handling of taxpayer money?
Ut did not receive a response by the time of publication. However, in a press conference last week, Mr. Shapiro addressed the issue.
“I take all allegations of harassment very seriously, and I have zero tolerance for such behavior,” said Mr. Shapiro. “As soon as the complaint was brought to my attention, I initiated an internal investigation to ensure a thorough and fair process. We followed established protocols and took appropriate action based on the findings.”
Mr. Shapiro emphasized that due to privacy laws and the ongoing investigation, he could not provide further details about the case. However, he expressed his commitment to transparency and accountability.
“I understand the concerns raised by the Republican women in the Senate, and I share their commitment to transparency,” said Mr. Shapiro. “I assure you that we will cooperate fully with any requests for information and work towards ensuring a respectful and safe workplace environment for all.”
The allegations against Mr. Vereb and the subsequent resignation have reignited discussions about workplace practices and the treatment of employees. It has also raised questions about the use of taxpayer money to handle harassment claims.
“The taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being used and if it is being used appropriately,” stated Ms. Ward. “We need transparency from the governor’s office to regain the trust of the people and ensure that incidents like this are thoroughly investigated and addressed.”
Ms. Phillips-Hill echoed these sentiments, stating, “Transparency is essential to hold our elected officials accountable and to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. It is time for the governor’s office to provide the answers the people of Pennsylvania deserve.”
The demand for transparency
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