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Pennsylvania
Related: About this forumBreaking: Rep. Mike Zabel (D., Delaware) accused of sexual harassment says he will resign
(link) https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/03/pa-mike-zabel-sexual-harassment-resigns/
HARRISBURG A Pennsylvania House Democrat accused of sexually harassing multiple people including two sitting Republican lawmakers says he will resign. State Rep. Mike Zabel (D., Delaware) announced his decision Wednesday in a letter to Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia). He said he will resign March 16.
His decision comes a week after union lobbyist Andi Perez publicly accused him of sexually harassing her, and the same day that state Rep. Abby Major (R., Armstrong) made a similar accusation. At least two other people have accused Zabel of similar harassment. One is a sitting GOP lawmaker who has requested anonymity; the other is Zabels former campaign manager, Colleen Kennedy, who wrote a public essay about his behavior.
Perez, her employer SEIU, state House Republicans including Major, Kennedy, and dozens of rank-and-file Democrats previously called on Zabel to resign. McClinton and other Democratic leaders said they took the accusations seriously but did not demand Zabel step down.
Zabel, an attorney who was first elected to a suburban Philadelphia district in 2018, initially rebuffed calls to resign, telling leadership he would seek inpatient treatment for an unnamed illness. He has not responded to Spotlight PAs multiple requests for comment.
His decision comes a week after union lobbyist Andi Perez publicly accused him of sexually harassing her, and the same day that state Rep. Abby Major (R., Armstrong) made a similar accusation. At least two other people have accused Zabel of similar harassment. One is a sitting GOP lawmaker who has requested anonymity; the other is Zabels former campaign manager, Colleen Kennedy, who wrote a public essay about his behavior.
Perez, her employer SEIU, state House Republicans including Major, Kennedy, and dozens of rank-and-file Democrats previously called on Zabel to resign. McClinton and other Democratic leaders said they took the accusations seriously but did not demand Zabel step down.
Zabel, an attorney who was first elected to a suburban Philadelphia district in 2018, initially rebuffed calls to resign, telling leadership he would seek inpatient treatment for an unnamed illness. He has not responded to Spotlight PAs multiple requests for comment.
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Breaking: Rep. Mike Zabel (D., Delaware) accused of sexual harassment says he will resign (Original Post)
FakeNoose
Mar 2023
OP
RandySF
(71,153 posts)1. Deep blue district.
FeelingBlue
(761 posts)2. Infuriating
This really is infuriating that ANY Democrat in office would do this, first of all. And second, that he would SQUANDER the opportunity he has been given to help move the Democratic agenda forward. Such a selfish pig at a precarious moment in history.
FakeNoose
(36,031 posts)4. Well presumably a Dem will be nominated to replace him
Zabel is a lawyer and he knows the score. Maybe he doesn't like his odds.
mobeau69
(11,663 posts)3. He's got that combover going on. Thank goodness for the resignation.
no_hypocrisy
(49,233 posts)5. Hey George Santos!
This is how its done!
yonder
(10,008 posts)7. I've no doubt this one will make Fox news.