Meehan named in lawsuit (Updated)

CORRECTION APPENDED (see bottom)

Former U.S. Attorney and congressional hopeful Pat Meehan is among a number of current and former Justice Department officials being accused of harassment in a lawsuit brought by a fired assistant U.S. Attorney.

The Daily News reports that Paul Mansfield, who was terminated in 2007, has sued the Department of Justice and Attorney General Eric Holder in a bid to get his job back and be compensated for damages.

While Meehan himself does not appear to be a defendant in the suit, he is one of several officials Mansfield claims “harassed, humiliated and marginalized” him, The Daily News reports.

Meehan’s campaign did not immediately comment Thursday. (See update below)

Meehan, the presumptive GOP nominee in the 7th District, will face the winner of a Democratic primary next year between state Representative Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware), political consultant E. Teresa Touey and environmental lawyer Gail Conner.

UPDATE: Meehan campaign spokesman Pete Peterson e-mailed pa2010.com this statement Thursday afternoon:

“As the news story reports, Paul Mansfield received a written reprimand, a two day suspension, a ten day suspension and then was ultimately terminated. Each such step is based on its own facts and is thoroughly and independently reviewed and approved within the Department. Following his dismissal, Mansfield filed an Informal Complaint with the Department that was denied. Mansfield then filed a Formal Complaint, it too was denied. Mansfield next filed a claim with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. It was denied. Mansfield then appealed his termination to the federal Merit Systems Protection Board. The termination was upheld. Mansfield next filed an appeal to the Office of Federal Operations of the EEOC. Again the termination was upheld. Today it is reported that Mansfield has filed a federal lawsuit. The record speaks for itself. The filing of a lawsuit says nothing to suggest that there is any merit to the allegations. As the matter is in litigation, any further response will be made at an appropriate time in court.”

Correction: This article originally misstated which newspaper reported on the lawsuit. It is The Philadelphia Daily News, not The Inquirer.