HARRISBURG – Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24) issued the following statement on the sexual harassment allegations levied against Mike Vereb, former Secretary of Legislative Affairs for the Shapiro Administration:
“The sexual harassment allegations being levied against Gov. Shapiro’s former Secretary of Legislative Affairs Mike Vereb are deeply troubling. The people of Pennsylvania trust us to work on their behalf of as public officials with integrity, respect, and with the best interest of the people we serve at top of mind. When this trust is betrayed, the people deserve answers.
“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, no matter who they are, deserve to be heard.
“While we cannot control the behavior of all people, we can take quick and appropriate action. In this instance, it seems that the alleged offender was permitted to stay in his role while 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 to be concerned that the victims’ claim may not have been taken seriously or addressed in a timely manner.
“There is important work to be done on behalf of Pennsylvanians, including finishing this year’s budget. I join in the growing calls for the administration to come clean on the allegations against Mr. Vereb. Gov. Shapiro needs to be transparent in what occurred, stop presenting conflicting timelines, protect the dignity of these victims, and provide concrete steps that will be taken to ensure that this kind of behavior will never be tolerated again. Only then can the administration begin to repair the public trust lost in this incident.”
CONTACT: Matt Szuchyt