Report: Boots Tells Halcovage to Quit – Argall Addresses Impeachment

Schuylkill County Commissioners Chairman Boots Hetherington is telling his fellow GOP Commissioner George Halcovage to resign from office.

According to the Times-News, Hetherington has released a statement telling the embattled Halcovage to quit his job as Commissioner.

Boots says he still believes Halcovage is entitled to due process but for some reason, after a year of hearing of the same allegations against him, he now feels it’s time for him to resign.

Boots Tells Halcovage to Resign as Schuylkill County Commissioner

“It has become quite obvious that his personal problems are impeding the successful operation of the Courthouse including our administrative staff and my goals for making Schuylkill County a better place to live, work, and play,” Hetherington is quoted as saying in a report Thursday at tnonline.com. (Click/tap to read full statement)

Halcovage faces a litany of accusations of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and other workplace behavior violations stretching back years, to when he first took office as Schuylkill County Commissioner.

Last month, four unnamed women filed a federal civil lawsuit against Halcovage, the County, and several other Courthouse officials seeking unspecified monetary damages for what they describe as a pattern of misbehavior on the part of the Commissioner and complicity on the part of the County.

Boots’ call for resignation joins a chorus of other politicians and political officials locally. Last week, all the female Schuylkill County row officers at the Courthouse called for his resignation. So, too, did the heads of the Schuylkill County Republican and Democrat Committees and the 3 members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing Schuylkill County.

Halcovage has denied the accusations thrown at him and previously vowed to fight them in court.

Argall Addresses Possible Halcovage Impeachment

State Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) addressed the possibility of an impeachment of Halcovage in an email newsletter to constituents on Thursday.

Believing that Halcovage won’t resign, despite the numerous calls for him to do so, some critics of the Commissioner have asked Harrisburg politicians like Argall to get involved with impeachment proceedings. Impeachment of a County Commissioner requires it first to be brought up in the State House of Representatives and then in the State Senate for a trial.

Argall taps the brakes on that, just slightly. In that email, he writes:

“The possible impeachment of a county commissioner is a very serious and difficult matter, taking into account the legal rights of the alleged victims as well as the alleged perpetrator. This will require considerable research, testimony from both sides, and a full debate in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate. It’s a sad day in Schuylkill County but we must address this matter in a way that is fair to all.”

READ OUR FULL COVERAGE OF THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY #METOO CASE:

• Impeachment the New Goal of Protests if Halcovage Doesn’t Resign
• State Legislators “Strongly Urge” Halcovage to Quit
• Schuylkill GOP, Democrats Call for Halcovage Resignation
• Schuylkill Courthouse Officials Demand Halcovage Resign
• Schuylkill Commissioners Ignore Demand They Rescind “Retaliation” Moves in Tax Offices
• “Jane Does” Claim Roth, Bender, Others Knew for Years But Did Nothing
• 4 Schuylkill County Courthouse Employees Sue for Harassment, Discrimination

 

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