“The Board of Directors of the Humane Society of the United States retained Morgan Lewis in December to conduct an investigation of allegations of workplace misconduct against our CEO, Wayne Pacelle. A special committee of the board is overseeing the investigation and reviewing its findings.
We do not have information that can be shared regarding the investigation, its findings, or board actions at this time. We believe it is important to deal in substance and not rumors, and our process is designed to ensure confidentiality and fair consideration of these issues.”
Eric Bernthal
Chair, Board of Directors, Humane Society of the United States
Paul Shapiro, former HSUS VP
The accusations against Pacelle come on the heels of sexual allegations against its former Vice-President of Policy Engagement, Paul Shapiro, who quietly left the organization earlier this month after working there for 13 years. There was no formal announcement except buzz on social media when Carol Adams, an animal activist and writer, was one of the first women to come forward in a facebook post to openly state she was sexually harassed by Shapiro:
“To spend your time trying to hold someone accountable for sexual harassment in the animal rights movement, to make recommendations for the best way for him to move forward, (to publicly hold himself accountable for his actions) and how healing that would be, and that he could provide an example to other men in the movement who are also perpetrators, and hope against hope that perhaps he can get it. And to wake up and see his facebook feed and that of his friends’ and know that he isn’t going to and that his privilege continues to protect him. This should be simple, for heaven’s sake: if you know someone is a perpetrator please do not like his posts!”
Shapiro refused to answer the allegations on his recent book tour stop in Washington D.C. as seen in this video. I’m not sure if this was the proper venue to ask him but it was probably the only way someone could inquire about the allegations.
Arthur Benjamin (l) and Wayne Pacelle
Then there is Arthur Benjamin, former HSUS National Council member who has been sued four times for sexual misconduct. According to Humane Watch, Benjamin helped to raise $2.5 million for the HSUS and worked on the National Council for four years until last year. Benjamin has been sued for sexual assault, rape, and harassment. Benjamin’s behavior of “inappropriate or unlawful behavior” has spanned approximately 20 years. The claims were made while he was CEO of a company called Data Mark. Humane Watch outlined Benjamin’s behavior as follows:
- In December 2001, Jeanette Borthick, a DataMark employee, filed a federal lawsuit against Benjamin, DataMark, and a DataMark vice president, claiming a violation of civil rights and sexual harassment. She alleged that Benjamin raped her in a hotel room while they were in Phoenix on business.
- The same day, Angela Allen Stoll filed a lawsuit against the same parties, claiming sexual assaults that occurred over a number of months at hotels, Benjamin’s home, and their place of employment.
- Borthick and Allen also sued Benjamin in Utah state court in 2000.
- In 2002, Jo-Ann Meron filed a lawsuit against Benjamin, DataMark, and DataMark’s COO, alleging sexual assault.
- According to the above litigation, a Debbie Juarez sued Benjamin in California court for allegedly raping her in 1995 while he was the president of now-defunct Watterson College in Southern California.
The Meron complaint didn’t just outline Meron’s personal allegations, it alleged a history of inappropriate behavior by Benjamin spanning two decades, including:
- Having a sexual relationship with a student while he was president of Watterson College, and having a relationship with an employee while president.
- Being the subject of a sexual harassment complaint at previous employment at Dover Business College.
- Continuing his alleged pattern of sexual harassment after he joined DataMark in 1995, including at least 5 separate instances of harassment.
- Admitting being the subject of a sexual harassment complaint in approximately 1982 made by a receptionist at a previous employer.
Benjamin denied these allegations, and the cases were largely settled without going to a jury.
The Meron and Stoll claims were settled out of court. The Juarez case was allegedly settled on the eve of the trial. The Borthick state case went to trial, where a jury found Benjamin liable for negligent infliction of emotional distress, but not the other claims. Benjamin later reached a settlement with Borthick. (Benjamin sued his insurance company to get indemnification.)
The #MeToo Movement has finally reached the animal rights arena. Will it be a pervasive issue as we’ve seen in Hollywood and the political arena? If the allegations are true, should Wayne Pacelle step down like his former employees?
Women mainly represent the majority of employees/volunteers in the animal welfare/rights field but it seems more men are hired to positions of power than women. Why aren’t more women hired as Executive Directors or CEO’s of animal organizations? It should be the person best qualified for the job regardless of sex. With men in these positions, it can be intimidating to come forward to share their stories of sexual claims. Some have been forced to be silenced. Some have left the field entirely. Many animal organizations don’t have a HR department to report any claims of sexual misconduct so the inappropriate behavior continues.
Now is the time for women not to be afraid and step forward with real allegations. I don’t want to see anyone’s career derailed over false accusations or without due process. We’re seeing a deluge of actors and politicians losing their careers over sexual charges without due process. I also don’t want women to be silenced any longer. It has been a man’s world for too long. Make no mistake, there are women who are to blame for sexual misconduct as well. Women can be ruthless in this field. They can be catty and quite mean to each other. No, it’s not the same as sexual misconduct but it is about power. It’s all about power! Anyone who uses their power or authority against anyone who is helping animals needs to be called out!
I sense this is the tip of the iceberg as more women feel comfortable to come forward with their stories.
Stay tuned. This is far from over.
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer and is an unabashed animal advocate. Her love for animals and quest for the hard truth is what drives her passion for all things animals. She hosts the show, ” A Close-Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” She adores her once-abused tripawd, Brody. If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com. Like https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues and check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com for all the tv shows, articles, and podcasts you may have missed!
It’s about time the truth comes out about this crooked operation. What a pretentious man. He hired Benjamin knowing about his former sexual allegations. What does that say about Pacelle? Good ole boy’s club. Times up!
#TimesUp,
It’s quite concerning that Arthur Benjamin was hired with a history of multiple allegations especially in a field that is comprised mostly of females.
Thanks!
It says they don’t care what men do to women! Pacelle lost a lot of “fans” when he back Michael Vick. He also wanted to have Vick’s dogs killed as other groups stepped up to the plate and worked with them. Then the HSUS used one of Vick’s dog to raise funds but they never had ANY of his dogs. They are beyond crooked. He’s a snake.
All the largest animal organizations at least most of them are motivated by money to pay their salaries. Can’t stand them.
Some of the largest animal charities do spend a good chunk of donations on administration costs which includes salaries but there are good animal charities out there. You have to do your homework and research first before deciding to donate your hard earned money.
Thanks.
Once they get a taste of money giving so freely of their money, they become greedy and never leave you alone. They don’t stop asking for you to part with their money so they can line their pockets. The HSUS has no shelters and doesn’t directly help animals despite what their commercials say. Pathetic loser.
I have been saying for years that this arrogant disingenuous lair Pacelle will sooner or later slip up! All these prigs think they’re untouchable,but they soon find out their god complex won’t help,them when the wolves attack!! He also been married to two different when the whole time so it’s insult added to injury! His first wife was forced to sign a gag order in their divorce settlement,love to unseal it and see what she has to say about this SOB?
Tom,
I don’t know about a former marriage in which his wife was forced to sign a gag order in the divorce settlement.
I can see you’re no fan of Wayne Pacelle. What was it that initially turned you off to him?
Thanks.
He’s a creep. He doesn’t want people to have animals as pets. I’ve no idea why he’s in this field. I hope he is pushed out and a woman gets in to replace him. He gives me the creeps whenever I see his smarmy face.
He makes over $300,000 a year? For what? They’ve used donations to pay off a $10,000,000 lawsuit against Ringling Bros. In their promos, they show “staff” removing animals from bad situations. Do you know where those animals go? To local rescue groups who take care of them and pay for that care themselves but the HSUS always manages to make themselves look the heroes. Someone needs to expose this crooked man and this crooked group.
I know there are good people in the HSUS. It’s his inner circle of confidants who are the crooked ones. I hope he gets exposed for what he does.
Can you bye bye, Wayne?
Get rid of him!
Pacelle told author Ted Kerasote for the 1994 book Bloodties: Nature, Culture, and the Hunt: “I don’t have a hands-on fondness for animals. I did not grow up bonded to any particular nonhuman animal. I like them and I pet them and I’m kind to them, but there’s no special bond between me and other animals.”
What the hell is he doing as the president and CEO of the HSUS?
Wayne had much more of an affinity for wildlife growing up then domestic animals, and maybe still does, who knows ? People change. But he has always despised the suffering humans perpetrated on them.
He has a sorted history with women. Your donations help to facilitate his power against women. Don’t you find that repulsive?
This was written on The Glass Door website. This comes from a former female employee of the HSUS and it was written in November 2017 BEFORE any allegations came to light about Wayne Pacelle.
“The organization has a long history of sexual harassment, starting from the top. It is truly a boy’s club atmosphere. Many people have complained to HR, managers, and others, and no one is listening. It is a serious problem! Stop pretending that it doesn’t exist and hope it goes away. Really take a serious look into the sexual harassment claims”
You can’t ignore it. This coming from an insider and says no one listened or did anything about sexual harassment. It’s time to reveal all their dirty secrets and clean it up. Let a woman run the HSUS
The environment at the HSUS for women is under fire because of men like Pacelle and Paul Shapiro. They were allowed to treat women like dirt for years and years. Yet, Pacelle gets to keep his job despite the truth about him. Board members resigned because of the decision for him to stay. It’s an all out outrage that he stayed put. Don’t give to this “charity” because most of the money they get is used for salaries, trips, advertising and fundraising. Very little is done to help animals. Pacelle needs to resign. I hope when the donations dry up the HSUS will finally see the light about the BIGGEST mistake they ever made. This makes me physically ill.
Even with Pacelle (officially) gone, his enablers remain in firm control and a culture of secrecy and corruption still looms at the top of HSUS. Also, keep in mind that when Pacelle supposedly “left” the Fund for Animals, he still remained in control via his handpicked executive staff and board members. That dynamic still exists at HSUS with Mike Markarian, Holly Hazard, Heidi Prescott, Josh Balk and all the board members who voted to shut down the sexual harassment investigation and to keep Pacelle in place.
Wayne Pacelle’s misconduct at HSUS goes far beyond sexual harassment allegations. He has, as a matter of routine, lied about his accomplishments and used charitable resources to publicize false claims that elevated his stature and fostered the kind of hero worship that has been so pervasive. This put the women he interacted with at a tremendous disadvantage when considering whether or not to report inappropriate behavior. His fabricated victories enabled his predatory ways by attracting followers and by insulating him from accountability and exposure.
Pacelle generated tremendous publicity for himself when he announced a legislative deal with United Egg Producers, which he claimed would “outlaw battery cages nationwide.” In reality, that deal would have kept laying hens confined inside egg factory cages in perpetuity.
Facing litigation that included charges of bribery, money laundering, and obstruction of justice (a check signed by Pacelle was apparently used to pay a witness who had repeatedly lied under oath), HSUS settled a massive RICO lawsuit by paying the owners of Ringling Brothers Circus millions of dollars of charitable donations that should have been used to protect animals. That’s in addition to all the money in legal fees that were paid out. This use of charitable dollars – to cover the improper conduct of Pacelle and other executive staff – was not unlike the misuse of funds used to essentially buy the silence of women allegedly sexually harassed at HSUS.
Details here: https://www.hfa.org/pdf/Corruption-RICO_Lawsuit-HSUS.pdf
In the biggest blunder in animal rights history, Pacelle squandered over $10 million dollars on Proposition 2, the botched 2008 initiative that resulted in millions of laying hens being subjected to more than nine years (and counting) of preventable cage confinement. Nevertheless, Pacelle’s continuously repeated claim that he had “outlawed” battery cages in California has been his biggest claim to fame. Pacelle and the egg industry have now introduced yet another ballot initiative in California. This new initiative would declare battery cages legal in California for additional years and would forever allow the egg industry to provide hens with as little as one square foot of floor space per bird.
Details here: https://www.hfa.org/legalizing-california-battery-cages.html
None of the above would have been possible without the complicity of the HSUS executive staff and members of the board of directors. Just as Pacelle provided cover for Paul Shapiro, HSUS’s senior staff and board members have covered for Pacelle’s behavior. There needs to be a clean sweep.
Damn right!
Pig. Pacelle is NOT charismatic. I always disliked him. Something about him made him sleazy.
I couldn’t stand this man. For all his “charisma” I found him to be a snake oil salesman. I don’t know how anyone could trust a man who didn’t even like being with animals. Why do people follow so blindly? When he stood up for Michael Vick after the dog fighting crime and then he said Vick should be allowed to have a pet after he knew full well the scope of the murderous acts he performed on his fighting dogs, I don’t know how anyone would stand by him and then give him money. He’s disgusting.
Wayne Pacelle is a monster and those of us that are victims of HSUS will never stop working to see that they are criminally prosecuted.
I can’t stand that narcissistic “man.” Yuck.
The corruption at HSUS continues to this day under Tom Waite and Kitty Block
HSUS operate with Matt Bershadker ASPCA who was just exposed for fraud and racial profiling.
HSUS operates with other con men Tim Kunan and Greg Hesterberg The Greater Good Charities.
HSUS operates with Rick Browde Wings Of Rescue who is 990s show embezzlement he is the biggest pet trafficker in the United States of stolen pets sourced after hurricanes.
Cathy bissell, the vacuum lady operates with a Ric Browde Wings Of Rescue.
Formal complaints are filed with the office of the Louisiana Attorney General.
HSUS was under criminal investigation for the same crimes after Hurricane Katrina shipping thousands of families beloved family companion pets hundreds of miles of north to kill shelters.
Keep in mind pets are already traumatized after the hurricanes and lost from their families they will be shipped to kill shelters up north and euthanized upon entry.
The purebreds will be resold at the Mega auctions at the Brandywine Valley SPCA operated by another ConMan Adam Lamb.
National News has been investigating this group for months.
When the story breaks they will be held criminally accountable.
The nonprofits caused more damage and more harm to families and their pets after disasters.