Meehan’s accuser will talk to ethics committee
An attorney representing a former congressional aide at the heart of allegations that U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan used taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment complaint last year said her client would not comment on the case.
“My client has repeatedly requested that Mr. Meehan cease discussing this matter publicly and honor his legal obligation to keep this matter confidential, but he refuses to do so,” said attorney Alexis Ronickher in a short statement Wednesday.
“Her privacy is important to her, so she is not willing to discuss the facts of this case in the media,” Ronickher added. “She intends, however, to fully cooperate with the House Ethics Committee investigation.”
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, removed Meehan, R-7 of Chadds Ford, from the House Ethics Committee Saturday. Committee Chair Susan Brooks, R-Ind., and ranking member Ted Deutch, D-Fla., said an investigation at Meehan’s request is underway.
Meehan, 62, spoke publicly about allegations in a Saturday New York Times article for the first time Tuesday, describing the longtime staffer decades his junior as a “soul mate” to whom he had admitted having “an affection” for and later writing her a letter wishing her well with a boyfriend.
“I never in any way made any kind of pass towards her, I never discussed anything about wanting any kind of a further relationship, she’s never alleged anything like that,” said Meehan.
The settlement – which Meehan characterized as a “severance” – was in the thousands of dollars, according to the Times story. That article indicated the aide filed a complaint with the congressional Office of Compliance after Meehan’s advances turned to workplace hospitality. Sources in that article said the woman was traumatized by the pushback from Meehan’s office and eventually left the country.
Ronickher previously said Meehan’s asking congressional attorneys handling the case to seek waiver of the agreement so that he could discuss it was “a desperate effort to preserve his career.” She noted it was Meehan who had demanded confidentiality and claimed he was now only requesting that it be waived because he knew the aide prizes her privacy and would not agree.
Meehan said Tuesday that he believed “disparaging” remarks to the press by Ronickher effectively violated that agreement, however, and that he was now free to discuss it.
Ronickher did not respond to a question asking for her thoughts on that point, but Philadelphia attorney Sid Gold of Sidney L. Gold and Associates, said there are typically varying levels of non-disclosure ranging from just the settlement amount to the full background of the case.
Without having the actual agreement in front of him, Gold surmised this was likely one of the latter, which could come with consequences such as forfeiture of the settlement amount should the claimant be found in breach.
But with Meehan also now discussing the case, Gold said the claimant could make a counter-argument that a bilateral breach had occurred and that any enforcement provisions against either party were effectively nullified.
Meehan, who has held the 7th District seat since 2011, also indicated Tuesday that he will run for reelection again this year and does not plan to resign, despite calls from Gov. Tom Wolf and Democratic candidates to do so.
Joseph Billie, a self-described “Constitutional conservative” vying for the Republican nomination, has also called on Meehan to resign and said Wednesday that his actions were “total irresponsible and should not be tolerated.”
“I’m really disappointed,” said Billie, a U.S. Navy veteran and volunteer firefighter. “Of all the congressmen down there, I never thought of him being involved in anything like this. The thing that bothers me – nobody’s perfect – but if he did use taxpayer money to settle this, that’s what really gets me furious.”
Fallout from the scandal also began settling on those connected to Meehan in earnest Wednesday.
One of the Democrats seeking the seat, Shelly Chauncey, of Glen Mills, called on U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6, of Chester County, to return $6,000 in campaign contributions from Meehan Wednesday. A spokesperson for Costello did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Democratic National Committee spokesperson Elizabeth Renda also ripped RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in a release for her failure to condemn Meehan during a segment on CNN Wednesday, saying it is “time for McDaniel and the RNC to put principle over party and formally withdraw their support of Meehan after his reprehensible behavior and use of taxpayer money as his personal sexual misconduct slush fund.”