Depositions began this week in the federal sexual harassment lawsuit against Schuylkill County Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr.

The depositions - in which witnesses give sworn evidence - are taking place in U.S. District Court, Scranton, under the rule of U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson.

The lawsuit was filed on March 16, 2021 by four women who work in the courthouse. They contend that beginning in 2012, the year he was first elected, Halcovage sexually harassed and intimidated them.

Halcovage has denied the accusations.

A second complaint was filed on Oct. 29, 2021, contending the women were retaliated against for filing the initial suit.

But don’t look for a quick resolution: Carlson has set deadlines for information gathering as far out as June 12, 2023.

Named in the suit are Halcovage, Schuylkill County Administrator Gary R. Bender, Risk Manager/Assistant County Solicitor Glenn T. Roth Jr., and the county.

Also named were former human resources directors Doreen Kutzler and Heidi L. Zula.

The women who filed the suits are identified only as Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3, and Jane Doe 4.

However, two of the women’s names, those of Tax Claim Office Director Angela Toomey and her assistant Denise McGinley-Gerchak, were made public after they were accused of improperly using the county’s expensive software to search names, including those of public officials. Two attempts to fire them have failed.

In their suit, the women contend that Halcovage, as a then-commissioners chairman, had hiring, supervisory and firing authority over them.

The women also contend that county officials did nothing to stop the harassment and tried to cover it up, and that they were subjected to retribution, including being demoted and suspended.

They are represented by Attorney Catherine W. Smith of Philadelphia.

Halcovage is represented by Gerard J. Geiger of Stroudsburg.

The allegations came to light in 2020, when an investigation by the county Human Resources Department determined Halcovage violated the sexual harassment, conduct and disciplinary action, and the physical and verbal abuse policies - transgressions that would have gotten him fired had he been an employee, the report said.

The matter was sent to the state Office of the Attorney General, which did not file charges.

The U.S. Department of Justice in May joined the suit.

On Monday, the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Courts voted 5-1 to send a criminal referral to the state Office of the Attorney General.

The subcommittee is in the process of determining whether Halcovage should be impeached.

For that to happen, the House would have to vote to remove him from office, and a trial would then be held by the Senate.