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Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Pat Meehan won't seek re-election

Published  January 26, 2018 5:58pm EST
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Republican congressman from Pennsylvania who settled a former aide's sexual harassment complaint with taxpayer money won't seek re-election.

READ MORE: Pa. Congressman saw aide as 'soul mate,' but denies misconduct

A spokesman for Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan says U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan informed Ryan of his decision on Thursday.

Meehan is the fifth member of Congress to resign or abandon re-election amid a national reckoning over sexual misconduct in the workplace.

The former aide is three decades younger than Meehan. Her complaint came to light Jan. 20 in a New York Times report, citing unnamed people. The settlement was secret under confidentiality provisions, and Meehan refuses to say how much taxpayer money was involved.

Meehan denies he did anything wrong and says he followed the advice of House lawyers and Ethics Committee guidance.