Another GOP Predator Bites The Dust As Rep. Patrick Meehan Resigns

Married father of three Representative Patrick Meehan (R-PA) resigned Friday to put an end to an ethics probe into sexual harassment after reportedly using taxpayer dollars in settlement with aide who alleged sexual harassment. Meehan says he will repay U.S. Treasury for the $39,000 payment.

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Meehan previously said he would not seek re-election, but on Friday resigned effective immediately in a letter of resignation sent to Governor Tom Wolf and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Meehan was swept into office in 2010 with the Republican Tea Party wave.

“With the knowledge I would not be standing for another term, I have decided that stepping down now is in the interest of the constituents I have been honored to serve,” the embattled Republican said in a statement.

“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.

“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.”

Meehan had taken a leading role in fighting sexual harassment in Congress. But then in January it was revealed that he used thousands of dollars in taxpayer money to pay off a much younger former aide who accused him of making unwanted romantic overtures to her, and he blamed the victim, saying she had invited his advances. Meehan claimed that he was actually the victim, feeling “emotionally wounded” by her claims of harassment.

Blaming the victim didn’t work out very well for Meehan, but it continues to work for the Republican predator president.

Predators know no party, but the Democratic party escorts theirs to the nearest exit, while the Republican party elevates theirs to the White House and justifies his ongoing attacks on civilian women who speak out against his predatory behavior, including his NDA “agreements” and payoffs. Until Republicans take a stand against Donald Trump’s routine predatory harassment of women, including women journalists, they can’t claim to see sexual harassment as a real problem instead of just a PR problem.

Sarah Jones

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