Keable accused of sexually harassing fellow House member

BURRILLVILLE – State Rep. Cale Keable, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a key ally of House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, has been removed from his leadership post by the speaker and placed on leave by his law firm after surprise allegations of sexual harassment involving a female House colleague were exposed in a WPRI-TV investigation Monday.

The allegations, which remain sketchy, revolve around a onetime relationship involving Keable and state Rep. Katherine Kazarian, an East Providence Democrat. She wrote an email to Mattiello in March claiming she had endured “years of sexual harassment” by Keable and expressed concerns about whether Keable would handle her bills fairly.

Kazarian, who is 14 years younger than Keable, became a state lawmaker six years ago, when she was 22. Keable, who is married, has been a member of the House since 2010, representing District 47, which includes parts of Glocester.

Keable, who has not addressed the allegations, was

removed from his leadership position by Mattiello – at least for now – immediately after the reports of sexual harassment became public. The speaker did not address reporters directly, but he issued a statement acknowledging that he had known about Kazarian’s allegations for some

time.

Four years ago, Mattiello said in the statement, he became aware that a “close personal and professional relationship” involving Keable and Kazarian had come to an end during a non-Statehouse event for which he, Mattiello, was not present. He said Kazarian subsequently asked for a meeting to discuss bill assignments. He suggested that a female aide, Lynne Ur-

bani, accompany Kazarian to the hearings on her bills and she seemed satisifed with the arrangement.

In 2018, Kazarian asked for another meeting about bill assignments, and he ended up suggesting that Rep. Keable absent himself from any related hearings. Again, Mattiello said, Kazarian expressed her “enthusiastic satisfaction” with the arrangement.

“In every session, there arises conflicts of many kinds between Representatives,” Mattiello said. “When I am made aware of issues, I pride myself in trying to resolve them expeditiously.”

Mattiello also indicated that he found it suspicious that an event dating back years had suddenly become an issue a week before the election. He characterized the timing as “clearly another attempt by the ultra-progres- sives to impact” the election cycle.

The prestigious Providence law firm where Keable has worked for many years, Partridge Snow & Hahn, issued a statement confirming that he had been placed on leave pending clarification of the allegations.

“Our firm takes allegations of sexual harassment very seriously and we believe it is in the best interest of our partners, employees and clients that Rep. Keable remain on administrative leave until these allegations are clarified,” PSH Managing Partner Howard Merten said.

Keable is running for re-election to the District 47 seat against Burrillville Town Councilman David Place, a Republican. This is the second time Place has challenged Keable for the state lawmaker’s job.