Co-worker had accused aide to Shapiro of harassment
Vereb resigned from secretary post Wednesday
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HARRISBURG (AP) -- A senior adviser to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro who abruptly resigned this week had been accused earlier this year of sexual harassment by a coworker who said his behavior forced her to quit her job in the governor's office.
Mike Vereb, who served as Shapiro's secretary of legislative affairs until his resignation on Wednesday, was accused in the woman's complaint to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission of subjecting her to lewd, misogynistic and unwanted sexual advances during her brief stint working in Shapiro's administration.
Vereb didn't immediately respond to a message.
A former state lawmaker, Vereb worked closely with Shapiro when he was attorney general. After the Democrat won the governor's post, Vereb assumed the role of shepherding the governor's agenda through the politically divided Legislature.
In a statement dated March 31 to the state Office of Administration, the woman said Vereb told her that "If you and I decided to enter into a sexual relationship it would be our business" and that he also told her to wear lower-cut tops and skirts with shorter slits.
Shapiro's spokesperson, Manuel Bonder, said in an emailed statement that he would not comment on a specific personnel matter. But he said the state takes "allegations of discrimination and harassment seriously" and there are procedures to investigate such claims.
The woman's lawyer, Chuck Pascal, said Thursday he was not able to "confirm the contents or authenticity of any alleged complaint, draft complaint or written statement" from her. Bonder declined to comment on the existence of any settlement.
The woman was offered a position in the governor's administration about the time Shapiro was taking office in January and resigned in March after she brought forth concerns over Vereb's behavior, according to her commission complaint. She said the governor's office did not remedy the situation or protect her from retaliation.