Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Miccarelli accuser: I want to help others
A state rep who has accused a fellow state rep from Delco of abuse says she wants to help others.
A Pennsylvania state lawmaker – one of two women who have accused Delaware County state Rep. Nick Miccarelli of abusive behavior – has gone public in obtaining a restraining order against him.
State Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116 of Luzerne County, alleges that fellow Republican Miccarelli pointed a gun at her in 2012. On another occasion, when the two were in a car, she claims he warned he would crash the vehicle while speeding 100 mph on a highway, The Citizens’
Voice reported . Toohil, 38, said she ended her relationship with Miccarelli, 35, after the 2012 incident.
In a statement released Saturday by her lawyers, Toohil said she has come forward to help others.
Toohil said she was in a consensual relationship with her fellow Republican state rep Miccarelli six years ago “but there were terrible moments that were non-consensual.”
“As a public official, I believe that I have a duty to step forward to protect other women,” Toohil said, adding that it had taken her years to identify that she was a victim of violence.
“This does not define me. It’s something that happened to me,” she said. “And if I — as a lawyer and a lawmaker — could be this afraid of that individual, then I can only imagine how the other victims feel, which is why I am coming out publicly.”
Miccarelli has not been charged with any crime and has denied the accusations.
Toohil’s protection or-
der request alleges that he pointed a gun at her at one point and has harassed and stalked her since their relationship ended, and she has been “in fear for my safety at work” since filing a complaint against him in the state House. A Luzerne County judged granted the restraining order Friday, barring Miccarelli from contacting Toohil and prohibiting him from possessing firearms.
Miccarelli, R-162 of Ridley Park, continues to vehemently deny the allegations and blasted his fellow state rep’s decision to seek the restraining order as part of a campaign to smear his name.
A Luzerne County judged granted the restraining order Friday, barring Miccarelli from contacting Toohil and prohibiting him from possessing firearms.
He has not been charged with any crime and denies the allegations. He called them “complete fabrications” in an interview with the Daily Times.
Toohil said she decided to go public and seek the order because the House returns to session Monday for the first time since the allegations by her and a second female political consultant became public.
Terry Mutchler, the Harrisburg lawyer who is representing both women, said Toohil is fearful of returning to the Capitol when Miccarelli is there. The lawyer
told the Philadelphia
Inquirer that Toohil indicated to her that Toohilshe decided to go public because “as a public official, I believe that I have a duty to step forward to protect other women.”
Both women admit they were once in consensual sexual relationships with Miccarelli.
The second woman, who has not made her name public, alleges Miccarelli came to her apartment and forced her to have sex after their relationship ended in 2014.
The allegations were filed Feb. 8 in a private complaint with House leaders. Both investigators in the House and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office are reviewing the allegations.
Both Democratic and Republican House leaders have called on Miccarelli to resign his post.
He maintains there is no truth to the allegations and he has no intention of stepping down, vowing instead to seek re-election.
Frank Keel, a spokesman for Miccarelli, called the allegations outrageous and baseless, part of a smear campaign. He questioned why Toohil would wait “six long years” to take legal action.
“She knew Nick was recently married. It’s unconscionable that Toohil would abuse the (protection from abuse) process in this way at this time, knowing the shame and embarrassment it would bring to Nick and his new family.
“Romantic relationships often end and Nick ended
his relationship with Ms. Toohil years ago. Ending a relationship, however, does not permit the jilted partner from attempting to destroy the other person’s life. It’s shameful that Toohil would make this move for a PFA without any notice to Nick or any opportunity for him to be heard. The allegations Toohil trumpeted to secure the PFA supposedly occurred six long years ago, yet she never decided to seek any legal relief until now? She knew Nick was recently married.
“The only minimal contact the two even have at this point in time is when they’re carrying out their official duties at the State House. This stunt provides further evidence that political forces beyond Toohill and Nick’s other female accuser are pulling out all the stops to destroy Nick’s good name and end his political career. Nick Miccarelli maintains his innocence. He has done nothing wrong and will continue to fight these outrageous and baseless allegations against him.”
Toohil also alleged that Miccarelli kicked, pinched and hit her. She said she was so concerned about her safety she appended a note to her life insurance policy that said Miccarelli should be investigated if something happened to her.
In a separate allegation against Miccarelli, a political consultant claims that after she ended their relationship in 2014, Miccarelli came to her house and forced her to have sex, holding her neck during part of the alleged attack.
Miccarelli also denies those allegations.
Toohil, who has not alleged Miccarelli sexually attacked her, said in her request for the protection order that Miccarelli had attempted to blackmail her by releasing photographs and that he has harassed and stalked her since a relationship between them ended.
She said she has been “in fear for my safety at work” since filing a complaint against him in the state House and that Miccarelli tried to intimidate her to “remain silent” after news of the allegations was first released.
Miccarelli, 35, is in the middle of a fifth two-year term. He got married on the Saturday after Valentine’s Day.
The two women, who filed their complaint Feb. 8, said they decided to come forward after seeing posts from Miccarelli on Facebook on support of the #Metoo movement, in which women across the nation have been emboldened to speak out against sexual harassment.
When he returns to Harrisburg this week, the Delco Republican will do so without the security clearance afforded most state officials. Reports indicate Miccarelli has been stripped of his security privileges at the Capitol. That mean he no longer can park his car in the garage reserved for state legislators and must enter the Capitol complex through manned security stations that are used by members of the public.