Gov. Josh Shapiro’s potential nomination as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate has brought a controversial scandal from his past back into the spotlight. One of the only scandals in his two-decade political career resurfaced when his former aide, Mike Vereb, abruptly resigned amid a sexual harassment investigation in September 2023. Vereb was accused of making repeated sexual advances and lewd comments toward a female employee in the governor’s office.
Shapiro has faced criticism for his administration’s lack of transparency regarding Vereb’s resignation and the allegations against him. Female state lawmakers from both parties have called for a more thorough explanation from Shapiro about what he knew and when regarding his aide’s conduct. Despite the settlement of $295,000 paid to the accuser, Vereb did not admit wrongdoing, and all parties involved signed nondisclosure agreements.
Shapiro has remained silent on the matter, with his chief of staff praising Vereb as a key member of their team in a news release announcing his departure. Vereb had been a close ally of Shapiro’s since their time serving together in the state House. The timeline of when Shapiro became aware of the allegations remains unclear, but he has emphasized the importance of a confidential and rigorous process for handling harassment complaints.
Critics have raised concerns about this scandal affecting Shapiro’s chances of being picked as Harris’ running mate. Erin McClelland, a Democratic nominee, indirectly referenced the scandal in a tweet calling for a vice presidential pick who does not sweep sexual harassment under the rug. This incident could potentially impact Shapiro’s standing in the selection process as the debate over Harris’ running mate continues.
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