Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has called off an investigation into possible criminal charges against Schuylkill County Commissioner George Halcovage.
According to a statement released to The Canary on Tuesday morning, Shapiro’s office is dropping the case. His office decided last year to take up the case and investigate potential criminal misconduct on the part of Halcovage. This came after an internal investigation at Schuylkill County Courthouse found the then-Commissioners Chairman likely did violate several workplace policies, including sexual harassment.
Bound by the rules on what can be done to a County Commissioner, that internal investigation could only state that if Halcovage hadn’t been in the position he was, he likely would have been terminated from a job with the county government.
But a County Commissioner can only be removed if he resigns, is found guilty of criminal wrongdoing, or is impeached. Impeachment is a lengthy and circuitous process that actually involves the state government and efforts to impeach Halcovage have gone nowhere since the allegations against the Commissioner were first revealed in 2020.
“Our office made a decision to close the case without filing charges and among our considerations was statutes of limitations. This case was closed 2/5/21,” the two sentence statement from Shapiro’s office reads.
AG Shapiro Drops Halcovage Criminal Investigation
It was in June 2020 that the Schuylkill County Solicitor’s office released a report indicating Halcovage likely did violate 3 workplace rules, including sexual harassment of women.
Halcovage has continually denied any wrongdoing in this matter.
Ever since the allegations came forward, critics of the Commissioner have publicly lobbed more accusations against him. And several purported anonymous employees at the Courthouse have said publicly they don’t feel safe working in the same building as Halcovage.
Halcovage has since stepped aside as Commissioners Chairman but remains on as a majority Commissioner. At one point last year, it was reported that Halcovage was confined to working only out of his office at the Courthouse while some questioned if he should be allowed on the premises.
The Commissioner still faces potential civil litigation over these alleged workplace infractions.
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