Delco Rep Mike Zabel To Resign Amid Sexual Harassment Scandal: Reports

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — After initially stating he would keep his seat in the Pennsylvania legislature, State Rep. Mike Zabel is resigning amid sexual harassment allegations.

Zabel (D-163) said in a letter to Democratic Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton that he is stepping back from his seat representing parts of Delaware County, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Action News reports his resignation will be effective March 16.

In the new letter, Zabel said he was stepping aside to "focus on my family and my health."

Zabel recently sent a letter to Pennsylvania House Democratic leadership saying he would not resign, but gave up his seat on the Judiciary Committee and would not accept other committee assignments.

In that same letter, he said an illness he has caused behavior he regrets and that he is being treated for the unspecified illness.

Spotlight PA reported State Rep. Mike Zabel was accused of sexually harassing Service Employees International Union 32BJ lobbyist Andi Perez in 2019.

In addition to Perez, two other women have claimed inappropriate behavior from Zabel.

The Inquirer reports another accuser is State Rep. Abby Major (R-Armstrong), who said Zabel complimented her looks, put his arms around her, touched her back, and asked her to go upstairs with him.

Perez has called on the state legislature to expand its policy on who can file misconduct complaints, as non-members of the legislative body are not able to file complaints against members.