Pennsylvania Governor's Office Settles $295K Sexual Harassment Claim Against Senior Aide

Settlement stems from allegations against Mike Vereb, former Secretary of Legislative Affairs, who resigned last month following accusations of lewd comments and retaliation; payment includes $196,365 to the victim and over $49,000 to her legal representatives.

• The office of Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, reached a settlement of $295,000 with a former employee who accused Mike Vereb, the ex-Secretary of Legislative Affairs, of sexual harassment. The settlement was finalized in early September, following Vereb's resignation in August.
• The complainant, who began her role around the time Shapiro took office in January, claimed that Vereb made lewd and misogynistic comments and retaliated against her when she voiced her objections. The victim, whose identity has been concealed due to the nature of the allegations, resigned in March as she alleged that the Governor's office did not resolve the situation or protect her from retaliation.
• The settlement payout included $196,365 to the victim and over $49,000 to her legal representatives. As part of the agreement, the Governor's office committed to providing sexual harassment training to all members of its Policy and Legislative Affairs staff.
• In addition to the harassment claims, the former employee can now seek employment elsewhere, including within the state government, as a contractor, or with a future administration, but she cannot be the lead contact for any contract work under the current administration.
• As per reports, Governor Josh Shapiro has largely refrained from commenting on the allegations or Vereb's resignation. His response to the situation has sparked criticism from legislators, including Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, who raised concerns about Vereb's continued employment despite the allegations.

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