Governor Josh Shapiro Faces Criticism Over Handling of Sexual Harassment Complaint
Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who has emerged as a potential candidate to join Vice President Kamala Harris on the ballot, is encountering renewed scrutiny regarding his management of a sexual harassment complaint involving a former top aide. This situation has garnered significant attention in light of the upcoming decision on Harris’s running mate, expected to be announced by Tuesday.
Last September, the state settled a complaint against Michael A. Vereb, who served as Shapiro’s head of legislative affairs and was considered one of his closest advisors, for a sum of $295,000. The complaint involved serious allegations from an employee who accused Vereb of making repeated and graphic sexual advances. Following her refusal, she reported that he retaliated by criticizing her job performance, which ultimately led her to resign rather than continue working under such circumstances.
Despite the allegations surfacing, Vereb retained his position for six months after the initial complaint was made. He only stepped down after local media acquired a copy of the complaint, weeks after the settlement had been reached without public knowledge. Upon his departure, the governor’s office lauded Vereb for his “dedicated service,” which further fueled the controversy surrounding Shapiro’s response.
The scrutiny surrounding Shapiro’s handling of this situation intensified recently, particularly as he is viewed as a frontrunner for the vice-presidential nomination. In light of this, the National Women’s Defense League, a nonpartisan organization established following the #MeToo movement, has urged the Harris campaign to investigate the circumstances of the case. They criticized Shapiro’s office for its inadequate measures in both preventing sexual harassment and addressing the complaint effectively.
Moreover, several Democrats, including a candidate for Pennsylvania treasurer, have voiced their concerns regarding the governor’s approach to the allegations. They argue that the response was insufficient and lacked transparency.
In response to the mounting criticism, Manuel Bonder, a spokesman for Governor Shapiro, issued a statement on Friday evening clarifying that the governor was not made aware of the complaint or the investigation until several months after it was initially filed. Bonder further mentioned that Shapiro should have been informed of these serious allegations sooner and has since implemented a directive ensuring that he will be immediately notified of any such complaints involving senior staff or cabinet members in the future.
