Vermont DA John Lavoie under fire for sexism at work

A Vermont district attorney is under fire after accusations he repeatedly made sickening comments to female colleagues — including calling women “whore,” “fat” and “retarded.”

Franklin County State’s Attorney John Lavoie is facing calls for impeachment after prosecutors alleged he made repeated discriminatory comments in the workplace and engaged in unwanted physical contact with his employees.

The Executive Committee of State’s Attorneys confirmed that the allegations against Lavoie were “credible” and unbecoming of a DA.

“We’ve talked to the women involved and it’s really difficult to hear some of the situations that occurred knowing that there’s not much we can do to prevent the individual to be in that position to continue acting like they have,” John Campbell, executive director for the Department of State’s Attorneys & Sheriffs, said in a statement.

The report highlighted several incidents in which Lavoie allegedly mocked his female colleagues, one of whom showed that the DA referred to one staff member as a “whore.”

He allegedly referred to another as a “slut bag,” which he denied ever saying, and was also accused of using the c-word “on a regular basis,” according to the complaint filed against him.

Lavoie also allegedly made several comments about his female colleague’s weight, telling one, “I don’t think you need to eat lunch today,” while pinching her midsection.

On another disturbing accusation, he told another that Peloton exercise bikes were for “fat people like you.”

Lavoie also once called his staff “retards,” and told one person, “… guess you aren’t the office retard, maybe you are just autistic or maybe it’s just Asperger’s.”  

Some of the allegations go beyond verbal harassment, with one employee alleging he pulled her badge from her neck and stuffed it “down the top of her dress.”

Lavoie was also accused of saying that the employee whose badge he ripped off had “magnificent boobs.”

He also allegedly wiped his butt with the photo of one woman’s boyfriend, who he said “looks like a woman.”

Lavoie admitted that some of his comments were “inappropriate” but said he does not believe his actions warrant a resignation.

The embattled DA has denied the most damning claims against him and insisted the bulk of them never occurred.

“These are not people that I’ve met two, three months ago, these are people I’ve been with for 20 years,” he told NBC 5 on Tuesday.

“I am the same guy that I have been all that time. And I guess I have to apologize for now suddenly being out of step and being with the times.

“I wonder if anyone thought to ask these employees — that are supposedly so upset with me — if they would like me to leave.”  

Vermont House Speaker Jill Krowinski said lawmakers will create a panel to gather evidence on the allegations as part of the first step to impeach Lavoie.