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Pa. trooper who guarded former gov settles lawsuit

2 min read

HARRISBURG (AP) – Pennsylvania State Police have settled for $95,000 a former trooper’s employment discrimination lawsuit that exposed a department investigation into Asian sex trips by other troopers, the agency said Wednesday.

The state police released the settlement agreement in the federal case filed by Joseph Farthing, who had worked in the team that guards the governor. Farthing was not implicated in the Asian trips.

The department had recently denied a request for the settlement agreement, arguing it was exempt from disclosure under the state Right-to-Know Law until the money was paid.

Farthing also received an honorable discharge as part of the settlement. A phone message seeking comment left for his lawyer on Wednesday was not returned.

Farthing, who is African-American, had claimed top officials with the state police had concocted a racially motivated claim that he had improperly milked overtime while guarding then-Gov. Ed Rendell.

Farthing alleged he was treated differently than white troopers. Documents filed as part of the lawsuit showed three lieutenants, including the former head of the Executive Service Section, were investigated for their involvement with prostitutes during vacations to Southeast Asia between 2002 and 2008.

The supervisors evaded significant punishment, and there was no evidence they were discharged or demoted.

Farthing was taken off the governor’s detail and assigned to the lieutenant governor’s mansion before retiring. The state police denied any racism was behind Farthing’s treatment.

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