Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Bukvar. Date not specified.
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, the state’s top election official, will resign recently. She has been accused of failing to promote a proposed constitutional amendment in Pennsylvania. The amendment would extend the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse victims to sue their abusers.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced her resignation effective Friday (Feb. 5).
Wolf stressed that the resignation is not related to the Nov. 3 election in Pennsylvania. The state has been under fire after former President Donald Trump and his lawyers continued to accuse the state of rampant and massive fraud during the presidential election.
Wolf said, “This change in the Secretary of State’s office has nothing to do with the administration of the 2020 election, which was fair and accurate.”
Wolf said the Secretary of State’s office must publicize the proposed state constitutional amendment, which voters will decide on through the ballot box in each of the three months leading up to the 2020 general election. But the secretary of state’s office has never done that.
The delay caused by this human error will break the hearts of thousands of childhood sexual assault survivors, protectors and legislators,” he said. I join the Secretary of State in apologizing to you. I share your anger and frustration about this, and I support you in your fight for justice.”
The governor said he is committed to passing legislation to reach a solution if the Pennsylvania legislature wants to create a window for victims to file claims in civil court.
Bookwal, who is a Democrat herself, has confirmed in a statement that she will leave office. Wolf will appoint another Pennsylvania election official, Veronica Degraffenreid, to serve in an acting capacity.
I am very proud of what we have accomplished for the people of Pennsylvania,” Buchwal said. I have always believed that accountability and leadership must be the cornerstone of public service. While I was not aware of this mistake until last week and took immediate steps to alert management to the error, I will still take responsibility for it on behalf of management.”
In response, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said, “The failure of the State Department to fulfill its responsibilities in the implementation of the constitutional amendment is shameful, and all possible options must be brought forth to address this issue immediately.”
He said, “Too many institutions have failed survivors of sexual abuse for too long, and I am determined to end this shameful behavior and ensure that justice is never again denied. My office has made it clear that the amendment implementation process has been an unnecessary obstacle from the beginning. I urge the General Assembly and the governor to do what many states have already done and allow Pennsylvania’s sexual abuse survivors to get to court as soon as possible by turning this final reform bill into law.”
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