The PA Democratic Party does this every election cycle. They pick a Republican, connect them to someone controversial, demand answers, and then act like they are the only people in Pennsylvania who care about accountability.
But accountability cannot only matter when it helps your party.
If Democrats want to ask Stacy Garrity questions about who supports her campaign, fine. Those are fair questions. Voters have a right to know who is funding candidates, who has access, and whether candidates are willing to answer for the people around them.
But then Governor Shapiro and the PA Democratic Party need to answer the same kind of questions about their own house.
Shapiro had a senior adviser, Mike Vereb, accused of sexual harassment by a coworker. His administration later agreed to a $295,000 settlement. That was not some random person on the edge of politics. That was someone inside his own administration, close enough to the Governorβs office that Pennsylvanians had every right to ask what was known, when it was known, why he stayed as long as he did, and why the public had to fight for answers.
So if we are going to have this conversation, letβs have the whole conversation.
Sexual assault and harassment allegations should never be used as cheap campaign weapons. They should be taken seriously every time, no matter which party is involved. Victims deserve better than being turned into political ammunition by people who only care when the accusation points at the other side.
This is exactly why people are disgusted with both parties. Democrats act outraged when it helps them. Republicans act outraged when it helps them. Then when the problem is inside their own circle, suddenly everyone gets quiet, careful, legalistic, and political.
Pennsylvania deserves a higher standard than that.
I am not running to protect a party. I am not running to defend Garrity, Shapiro, Trump, Democrats, Republicans, donors, consultants, or political insiders. I am running because regular Pennsylvanians are tired of watching both parties use serious issues when convenient and bury them when inconvenient.
If someone is accused of harassment or assault, investigate it seriously. If public money is used in a settlement, disclose what can legally be disclosed. If a candidate or elected official keeps someone close after serious allegations, they should answer for that decision. And if either party wants to lecture everyone else about trust, they should start by proving they apply the same standard to themselves.
That is what real accountability looks like.
James Moore for Governor
Unbought. Unafraid.
mooreforpa.com
#MooreForPA #PAFirst #Accountability #IndependentLeadership #FixPennsylvania