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Gov. Josh Shapiro on Thursday voiced his commitment to a “healthy, safe, professional work environment” for employees who work for his administration as he struggles to address a sexual harassment complaint involving a former top aide.
Shapiro, in his first public remarks about the matter, declined to comment directly about the claims made against his former Secretary of Legislative Affairs Mike Vereb by a female deputy secretary who worked in the legislative affairs office.
“The fact that this is a personnel matter, I can’t comment on any specifics and that’s really designed to be able to protect all parties involved in any matter,” Shapiro said, responding to a reporter’s question following an appearance in Bethlehem to announce new funding for recreation and conservation projects.
Vereb resigned his post at the end of September. That was nearly six months after the woman, whose name is being withheld by PennLive due to the nature of the allegations, resigned.
According to a draft of a Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission complaint obtained by PennLive, the women said she could no longer work in an environment where she was regularly subject to lewd and sexually inappropriate comments from Vereb. She also said she was retaliated against when she complained.
Shapiro was asked to react to concerns raised by Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, and other female Republican senators about why Vereb was permitted to stay in his position for months after the allegations against him were raised.
“Consider the source when it comes from the president pro tem,” said Shapiro, before defending the process his office used to investigate the claims.
Ward’s spokeswoman Erica Clayton Wright posted a photo of the governor at that event on social media, adding the comment, “instead of taking the opportunity to be transparent and answer a question on a serious topic, he attacked the credibility of the first female Senate president.”
The woman’s attorney, not commenting on his client’s case specifically but speaking generally, also took issue with that response from the governor.
“Legitimate questions or concerns expressed by elected official — of either party — about sexual harassment in the workplace shouldn’t be dismissed in such a cavalier fashion. That response is beyond disappointing,” said attorney Charles Pascal, chairman of the Armstrong County Democratic Committee.
Shapiro said his administration is led by “two strong women” referring to his Chief of Staff Dana Fritz and General Counsel Jennifer Selber. Together, he said they work daily to ensure a safe work environment for all employees.
“Should anyone feel that we’re not meeting those standards, we have an independent robust professional process to allow people to come forward safely and have their concerns heard,” Shapiro said. “That’s something that I’m committed to. The leaders in my administration are committed to. And that is something we adhere to in every case.”
Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton/Lehigh counties, who was at the event, said she and the seven other Democratic female senators and Senat Democratic Leader Jay Costa met privately with Shapiro about the situation.
“I’m very confident him and his administration is handling this as best as they can,” Boscola said.
Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-Allegheny County, was among the senators in that private meeting. Afterward, she told The Philadelphia Inquirer she came away with “unanswered questions about the process” that was followed once the woman made her allegations known. Other senators declined to comment after the hourlong meeting and some came away visibly frustrated, according to the news story.
Shapiro said, speaking generally about the harassment allegations, that as attorney general he learned “you owe it to a victim to make sure that you have a confidential process, that you have a rigorous process that’s grounded in integrity to ensure their voice can be heard and to ensure that appropriate outcomes are brought about. And we are committed to doing that and do it in our administration.”
The Pennsylvania GOP Chairman Lawrence Tabas issued a statement on social media Thursday evening defending Ward.
“When President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate Kim Ward justifiably called out Shapiro’s leniency on sexual harassment allegations, he dismissed and insulted her. He continues to let members of the ‘good old boys’ club off with a slap on the wrist. The PAGOP stands with Senator Ward, and we encourage her to continue to make Pennsylvania better for all people, regardless of sex. Josh Shapiro and the Democrats have shown how they really feel about women’s rights and sexual harassment in the workplace.”
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