It seems the party of family values, small government, and tax cuts is also a party with a colleague who cheats on his wife, sexually harasses women, and illegally pays off women when they stand up against that treatment. No, this isn’t a story about Donald Trump, although his resignation at this point would be more than welcome.
NEW: Rep. Pat Meehan, Republican from Pennsylvania, announces resignation.
Meehan, who had been facing ethics investigation after purportedly using taxpayer dollars in settlement with aide who alleged sexual harassment, says he will repay U.S. Treasury for $39,000 payment. pic.twitter.com/lzWF5hRDir
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) April 27, 2018
GOP Representative Patrick Meehan (R-PA) announced on Friday that is resigning “effective immediately” after becoming the subject of an investigation into claims made by a former staffer that he pursued an unwanted sexual relationship with her. According to CNN, Meehan gave a statement to reporters denying the claims but offering his resignation, anyway.
‘While I do believe I would be exonerated of any wrongdoing, I also did not want to put my staff through the rigors of an Ethics Committee investigation and believed it was best for them to have a head start on new employment rather than being caught up in an inquiry. And since I have chosen to resign, the inquiry will not become a burden to taxpayers and committee staff.’
Rep. Meehan resigned from Congress on Friday, but he vowed to repay taxpayers the tens of thousands of dollars he used to settle a sexual harassment claim https://t.co/0WY004r5kX pic.twitter.com/r85eRZtuAb
— POLITICO (@politico) April 27, 2018
Meehan also said that he has never cheated on his wife, with whom he has three children, and called the former staffer making the accusations his “soul mate,” but says he did not pursue a sexual relationship.
Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., resigns effective immediately, will pay back $39,000 settlement of sexual harassment case. https://t.co/3qCwKXzwqA
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) April 27, 2018
Meehan had announced that he would not seek reelection in January when he was exposed for having used taxpayer money to settle the sexual harassment claim. At that time, he was removed from the House Ethics Committee on which he served. Now, he is choosing to resign immediately rather than face the same committee on which he once served.
‘I will pay $39,000.00 to the U.S. Treasury to reimburse for the severance payment that was made from my office account. That payment will be made within 30 days of my resignation from the House of Representatives. I did not want to leave with any question of violating the trust of taxpayers.’
Republican Rep. Patrick Meehan, under misconduct cloud, will not seek reelection https://t.co/IiKstcKDju #PatMeehan #HouseCommitteeonEthics #Republicans #ethics #Pennsylvania #MidTermElections #MidTerms
— Speak out! (@Anna_ohlala) January 26, 2018
Meehan’s immediate resignation follows that of GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold, who recently stepped down over, of course, sexual harassment allegations.
