Bucks County Lawmaker Calls On Delco Representative To Resign

HARRISBURG, PA — In reaction to Friday’s announcement that Rep. Mike Zabel (D-Delaware) will not be resigning from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, more than a dozen female state representatives led by Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-178) delivered a letter to Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia) and Zabel on Monday renewing the call for his resignation.

“Knowing Rep. Zabel will not be serving in the halls of the Capitol is the only way women who have had to deal with the grotesque and repeated conduct from this serial harasser will be able
to feel safe,” the letter said.

“Women have spent generations breaking down barriers to hold positions of public trust and confidence, but the disgusting unwanted sexual advances by people like Rep. Zabel have continuously held women back or slowed the progress they have made. Too often, the behavior of such men and the silent complicity of others has, sadly, prevented others from even believing the truth. No one – man or woman, Democrat or Republican – should stand for this kind of behavior
in 2023.”

In January, a lobbyist for Service Employees International Union 32BJ said that an unnamed lawmaker had harassed her while they discussed a bill outside of the Capitol building. In an interview with Spotlight, the lobbyist later revealed that it was Rep. Zabel.

Spotlight reported on Friday that Zabel would not be resigning, but would be seeking treatment for an unnamed "illness." He also said in a letter to the House Democratic leadership that he would be resigning from the Judiciary Committee and that he would not be accepting any other committee assignments.

In addition to the letter, Rep. Marcell said, "What makes this situation even more intolerable
is that House Democratic leadership, which has at times consisted of a number of different women, covered up these actions and remained silent on them until Rep. Zabel was finally caught. The timeline of how his identity was kept quiet – despite his identity being reported as 'an
open secret' by the news media in the weeks preceding – is there for everyone to see,” she said.

“The speaker’s call for a vote to shut down the mention of Rep. Zabel’s name during the House rules vote is there for anyone to see. How can we allow Rep. Zabel to continue to hold the title
and position of trust he abused - especially when he has yet to deny any of the accusations made against him? How can any party prioritize its political power and voting margin over women’s safety?”