As speculation about Gov. Josh Shapiro’s chances of becoming Kamala Harris’ vice presidential running mate continued to grow Wednesday, a national nonpartisan organization focused on preventing sexual harassment in state government said the governor failed to prevent sexual harassment in his office.
“Governor Shapiro’s office should have done a better job of preventing sexual harassment in his own office by former Cabinet Secretary Mike Vereb, including protecting the victim who bravely came forward, ensuring that all other potential victims felt safe speaking up, and ensuring that the harasser did not have the opportunity to cause further harm after filing a complaint,” Emma Davidson Tribbs, executive director of the National Women’s Defense League, said in a statement.
Davidson Tribbs said as Democrats and the Harris campaign consider vice presidential candidates, “we urge them to consider addressing the past sexual harassment complaints in the Pennsylvania governor’s office. The American people deserve to know that if appointed to higher office, Gov. Shapiro will do more to ensure the safety and dignity of the employees, volunteers and constituents in his office.”
Shapiro’s office paid $295,000 in public money resolve a complaint by an employee who alleged that Vereb, her longtime ally and high-ranking associate of Shapiro, made inappropriate, lewd and sexual comments and that the administration’s handling of the situation forced her to leave her job.
Vereb resigned suddenly on September 27, just before The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that details of the complaint the woman filed in May with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
The settlement resolved the PHRC case and required the woman to withdraw her complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Under the terms of the agreement, the governor’s office did not admit liability, and she agreed to forgo future employment with the governor’s office but would be allowed to work as a lobbyist for the office.
The settlement includes a confidentiality clause that prohibits the parties from discussing the terms.
Shapiro’s office reaches $295,000 settlement with woman who accused her top assistant of harassment
The Capital-Star is not naming the woman because of the nature of the allegations. She told the Capital-Star on Wednesday that she is focused solely on what happens next with the other women in Harrisburg, which she notes will require Shapiro’s leadership.
“There is a large package of bills waiting to be discussed and refined that have been introduced by both chambers. But this package is quite significant and touches on many aspects,” she said. “I am most interested in ensuring that third, independent, impartial parties are involved in the investigations that the senators are advocating for. [Kim] Branch and [Maria] Collett, a true bipartisan effort by women.”
She added that she hopes to see “unity on Capitol Hill when these bills are introduced in the fall session for women and even men in Harrisburg. I haven’t heard Shapiro’s take on these bills yet, but I can’t wait for him to step up and protect the women of Pa.”
A spokesman for Shapiro did not respond to the Capital-Star’s request for comment Wednesday.
Congresswoman Abby Major (R-Armstrong) has been outspoken in her criticism of how Shapiro’s office handled the allegations against Vereb, telling the Capital-Star it had a chilling effect on women working on Capitol Hill.
“Women are afraid because even though Vereb’s victim got compensation, she lost her job,” Major said. Women working in the Capitol may rely on lawmakers for employment, she noted, and may not be willing to come forward if they think they might lose their jobs. “Women are afraid to come forward, and that has perpetuated this culture that is the status quo in Pennsylvania.”
A package of bills aimed at addressing harassment at the Capitol was introduced overdue last year. They include:
- Journal of Laws 276:Resolution to amend the Chamber’s Code of Ethics to add “nonverbal acts” to the definition of sexual harassment, prohibit members accused of sexual harassment from engaging in Chamber-related services or duties, provide an individual with the ability to appeal their complaint, and enhance transparency regarding the number of complaints filed with the Ethics Committee.
- HB1901:Amending the PennWATCH Act to include information about each settlement paid to an individual or employee
- HB1902:Amending the Right to Know Act to Redact a Victim of Sexual Harassment or Sexual Assault from a Settlement Agreement Before It Is Publicly Disclosed
- HB1906:Transform federal confidentiality agreement law into state law, prohibiting the enforcement of pre-employment confidentiality and non-defamation agreements and the invalidation of pre-dispute agreements
- HB1948:Creation of a framework enabling the Community to seek compensation from persons whose actions give rise to settlements of judgments paid by the Community.
Neither bill has advanced out of committee. Major said she is not hopeful that it ever will because there is no appetite for such legislation in Harrisburg. But she said that if and when other women come forward, she would offer support, whether they are making allegations against a Democrat or a Republican.
According to a 2019 study by the Joint State Government Commission of legislative, judicial, executive and independent state agencies, sexual harassment claims cost taxpayers $1.9 million.
National Women’s Defense League published a report last autumn on sexual harassment in public service and deemed it a “widespread and ongoing” problem.
The report found that at least 130 state lawmakers have been accused of sexual harassment by 359 people over the past decade. There appears to be little accountability for harassing behavior: Nearly 60% of lawmakers try to stay in office immediately after being accused, and in 55% of identified incidents, no official action was taken against the accused official.
Nearly 90% of accused lawmakers are reelected. Five lawmakers have been accused of sexual harassment in Pennsylvania since 2013, the report found, with little effort to change the system and address the problem.
“We deserve leaders who will not sweep sexual harassment under the rug, but who will put accountability before politics,” Davidson Tribbs said Wednesday. “We need leaders who prioritize effective policies, protocols and a culture that prevents sexual harassment and protects victims.”
Peter Hall from the Capital-Star team contributed to this report.
