PA Rep Patrick Meehan Resigns, Pledges to Pay Back $39,000 Amid Sexual Harassment Probe

Pennsylvania Representative Patrick Meehan announced on Friday that he is resigning from Congress effective immediately.

The decision comes amid a simmering sexual harassment scandal involving a female staffer. He then used taxpayer money to settle the sexual harassment claim against him.

At the time of his resignation, he was facing a House Ethics probe in the matter.

In his statement on Friday, Meehan vowed to pay back the $39,000 used for the settlement.

“I will pay $39,000.00 to the U.S. Treasury to reimburse for the severance payment that was made from my office account,” Meehan said in a statement first reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. “That payment will be made within 30 days of my resignation from the House of Representatives. I did not want to leave with any question of violating the trust of taxpayers.”

He denied, however, that he was involved in any wrongdoing and insisted that he was leaving both for his career and to save taxpayer money.

“[I] believed it was best for them to have a head start on new employment rather than being caught up in an inquiry,” the Republican lawmaker said. “And since I have chosen to resign, the inquiry will not become a burden to taxpayers and committee staff.”

[image via screengrab]

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