Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, one of the leading contenders to be Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, canceled three appearances at a weekend fundraiser in New York’s wealthy Hamptons.
The cancellation comes just days before Harris is scheduled to announce her running for vice president at a Philadelphia rally on Tuesday. It is unclear why the trip was canceled.
“The Governor’s trip was planned several weeks ago and included several fundraising events for his campaign,” Manuel Bondar, a spokesman for Gov. Shapiro, told The New York Times. “The Governor’s schedule has changed and he will not be traveling to the Hamptons this weekend.”
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Vice President Kamala Harris and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (L) hold a press conference during a stop at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (Ryan Collard/AFP via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital has reached out to Shapiro’s office.
One of the events was a “summer soiree” for the liberal youth advocacy group The Next 50, where Shapiro, 51, was billed as a “special guest,” The Times reported.
Shapiro’s future as a running mate has come under scrutiny, with the National Women’s Defense League urging Harris to reconsider choosing him because of how he handled a sexual harassment case in her office involving former Cabinet secretary Mike Vereb.
“Governor Shapiro’s office should have done a better job of stopping the sexual harassment by former Cabinet member Mike Vereb within the Governor’s office, including by protecting the victim who bravely came forward, making sure other potential victims felt safe to speak up, and ensuring that perpetrators did not have the opportunity to inflict further harm after coming forward,” NWDL Director Emma Davidson Trives said in a statement.
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks alongside U.S. President Joe Biden (not pictured) during a campaign event at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Biden has made his home state of Pennsylvania a center stage as he seeks to take advantage of Donald Trump’s absence from the campaign trail. A controversial steel deal and persistent fears about the economy have raised voter concerns about Biden’s policies in the state, which is eyeing a 2024 battleground state. Photographer: Hannah Beyer/Bloomberg (Hannah Beyer/Bloomberg)
“As the Harris campaign and the Democratic Party consider their options for a running mate, we urge them to consider their handling of past sexual harassment complaints within the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office,” Tribus added. “The American people should know that if Governor Shapiro were to assume higher office, he will go the extra mile to ensure the safety and dignity of his office’s staff, volunteers and constituents.”
Vereb resigned in September 2023 after Shapiro’s administration quietly agreed to pay $295,000 to settle claims from Vereb that staff in the governor’s office alleged that Vereb had forced them into unwanted sexual acts and spoke openly about her, other staff members and female state senators, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer report.
“While the federal government does not comment on specific personnel matters, we take allegations of discrimination and harassment seriously,” Bondar told Fox News in a statement.
U.S. President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden (left), and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (right) visit a coffee shop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on July 7, 2024. (Saul Loeb/AFP)
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“We have rigorous procedures in place to thoroughly investigate reports of discrimination and harassment and these procedures are put in place whenever a complaint of discrimination or harassment is made, ensure allegations are investigated promptly and fully and provide detailed guidelines to ensure employees feel comfortable reporting misconduct,” he added.
