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Pornography has no place in the workplace, particularly not the top law office in the Commonwealth

 The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) believes that pornography and sexually explicit materials have no place in the highest law enforcement office in the Commonwealth—or any workplace— as it contributes to an environment that is inappropriate at best and hostile at worst. Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s office presented members of the media to view more than 1000 sexually explicit pictures, videos and slides received by former and current employees of the Attorney General’s office between 2008 and 2012.

Media coverage from numerous outlets note that reporters saw images and video of explicit sex acts including sex-toys, the insertion of foreign objects such as a bowling pin, lit cigar and champagne bottle into women’s vaginas, anal sex in an office setting with a mock “motivational message”  and fetish materials.

“We are profoundly disappointed to learn that the sharing of materials such as this happened on tax-payer paid time via state equipment, and most disheartened to learn this occurred in the highest office of law enforcement in the Commonwealth,” PCAR CEO Delilah Rumburg said. “That employees of the Attorney General’s office felt at ease to do so raises serious questions about the environment of that office, the attitudes of some members of leadership and employees, and how those factors were experienced by female colleagues as well as the victims, family members and witnesses who worked with the office during those years.”  

Rumburg also noted that pornography in the workplace is a standard example of a “hostile work environment” in nearly any sexual harassment policy or training.

About PCAR:

Founded in 1975, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape advocates for the rights and needs of sexual assault victims and works to end sexual violence.  PCAR partners with a network of rape crisis programs to bring help, hope and healing around issues of sexual violence to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.