A state House of Representatives investigation into Schuylkill County Commissioner George Halcovage will get underway on Jan. 11, 2022.
House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Courts chairman Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin County) announced Monday that the investigation is starting that Tuesday because Halcovage has shown a “refusal to resign in the face of allegations of misbehavior in office and violation of public trust.”
Halcovage is accused of sexual harassment and misconduct as Commissioner.
Earlier this year, 4 Schuylkill County Courthouse employees filed a federal civil lawsuit against Halcovage detailing bombshell accusations against the Commissioner. While they await a trial date later in 2022, investigations into Halcovage’s alleged behavior have been promised by the House and the state Senate.
The House investigation that’ll get underway in January could eventually lead to an impeachment and Halcovage’s removal from office. Halcovage was re-elected to a 4-year term as Schuylkill County Commissioner in 2019.
“The allegations against Mr. Halcovage are serious enough to warrant further investigation,” Schemel says in a statement released through his office Monday. “Because he is an elected official, the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Courts will conduct an in-depth and thorough investigation of Mr. Halcovage to determine if he is liable for impeachment.”
In November, the House unanimously passed House Resolution 99, which gave permission to its Judiciary Committee to begin investigating Halcovage.
If and when the inquest begins in January, the Subcommittee likely will subpoena witnesses, including the Jane Doe plaintiffs in the sexual harassment lawsuit and other County government officials. eguarded.
“It is a solemn responsibility of the subcommittee to review the underlying circumstances before a potential impeachment and prepare a report for the Legislature with recommendations,” Schemel adds in his statement. “The subcommittee takes this task very seriously and recognizes that impeachment would result in the removal of an individual elected by the people of Schuylkill County.”
Halcovage has denied any wrongdoing in regard to the accusations against him.
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Theresa Price
December 21, 2021 at 11:32 am
This can’t happen fast enough!
Ryles
December 21, 2021 at 5:36 pm
The State House Investigation is solely for CYA purposes & will be “inconclusive”. Not many Profiles in Courage here.