Updated at 6:45 p.m.
John Lavoie, the embattled Franklin County State’s Attorney, will resign at the end of the month, the executive director of the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs confirmed Wednesday afternoon.
John Campbell told VTDigger that Lavoie submitted a resignation letter to Gov. Phil Scott Tuesday night, stating that he would resign as of Aug. 31. Lavoie did not give a reason for leaving office, said Campbell, who received a copy of the letter.
Lavoie has been the subject of an impeachment inquiry in the Vermont House this year after a lengthy report from the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs found that he repeatedly harassed and discriminated against his employees.
He had previously rejected repeated calls for his resignation.
WCAX and NBC5 both reported Wednesday afternoon that Lavoie had confirmed his resignation to the stations. Lavoie did not respond to multiple requests for comment late Wednesday afternoon.
Lavoie has worked in the State’s Attorney’s Office for two decades, but was only elected to the top role last November. He ran as a Democrat.
According to the state’s attorneys and sheriffs department, an internal investigation found that Lavoie had a pattern of making derogatory comments targeting almost every protected class. He allegedly made comments about other people’s “body composition,” it found, and allegedly touched two separate employees against their wishes.
Cumulatively, the investigation alleged, Lavoie’s behavior created a hostile work environment — especially in an office made up mostly of women.
The state’s attorneys and sheriffs department began a public campaign in early May to pressure Lavoie to resign, and called on the Legislature to consider impeaching him.
Lavoie previously told reporters that he had individually apologized to people he offended, including two attorneys outside of his office, as well as at an all-staff meeting earlier this year. But the numerous incidents of his inappropriate workplace behavior, he maintained, “are not sufficient to warrant my resignation.”
The special House committee later tasked with considering Lavoie’s impeachment — as well as that of Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore — has held hearings throughout the summer and taken testimony related to Lavoie’s case, though largely in executive sessions. The committee is set to meet again Friday afternoon to “review and vote” on its recommendations and report, according to its agenda.
Campbell estimated on Wednesday that the committee has interviewed more than 30 witnesses so far.
“They’ve been very diligent about it,” Campbell said. “I’m sure that had a great deal to do with Mr. Lavoie making the decision that he did,” he added.
The executive director said he thought Lavoie’s resignation would help bring “stability and support back to the office.”
