Rep. Meehan resigns; will pay back settlement

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan resigned from Congress Friday, leaving months after a news report revealed that he had secretly used taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment accusation.

Meehan, who again denied any wrongdoing, said he would nonetheless pay back the $39,000 used for the settlement with a former aide. In a statement Friday, the Pennsylvania Republican also thanked his wife and family for their support, and said he wished he “had done better” by the constituents who were disappointed in his actions.

Meehan had already announced that he was not seeking re-election in the wake of a January New York Times report revealing his settlement — which was followed by an interview in which he infamously described the younger aide as a “soul mate.” But his announcement speeds his departure from Congress, and will end an Ethics Committee investigation into his conduct.

“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,” Meehan, a former member of the ethics panel, said in a statement. “I will pay $39,000.00 to the U.S. Treasury to reimburse for the severance payment that was made from my office account.”

He said the payment would come within 30 days. “I did not want to leave with any question of violating the trust of taxpayers.”

A press aide said Meehan would use his own money to repay the amount.

In his statement, the congressman, 62, said he is “deeply grateful to my wife who is so supportive, and who has made many sacrifices in her own career so that I could pursue mine in public service” and thanked his children.