U.S. Congressman Patrick Meehan of Pennsylvania is not running for another term. The lawmaker is facing sexual harassment allegations, by a former aide whom he described as a “soul mate.”
The Office of House Speaker Paul Ryan confirmed
that Cong. Meehan will not seek re-election this year. The Pennsylvania representative decision came amid calls for his resignation. His fellow Republicans are convinced that it would be difficult for him to win an election because of the scandal.
On January 20, the New York Times reported that Cong. Meehan settled a sexual harassment complaint using taxpayer money. Alexis Ronickher, the lawyer representing the accuser, said the allegations against the congressman are “serious” and “well-grounded.”
Cong. Meehan explains his use of the term soul mate
In a letter to his campaign chairman, Cong. Meehan, “Unfortunately, recent events concerning my office and the settlement of certain harassment allegations have become a major distraction. I need to own it because it is my own conduct that fueled the matter.”
