Vermont DA branded ‘Archie Bunker of prosecutors’ over claims he nicknamed female colleague ‘whore’

A Vermont District Attorney has been branded the ‘Archie Bunker of prosecutors’ after a damning investigation revealed he called a female colleague a ‘whore,’ told others to avoid fast food, and that Peloton bikes were for ‘fat people like you.’ 

John Lavoie could be impeached – the first in 50 years in the state – for reportedly making misogynistic, racist and ableism comments toward his female staff. 

He’s been compared to the All in the Family character Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor), who often made off-the-cuff and off-color remarks. 

Despite his fellow prosecutors’ demand for his resignation, Lavoie has refused at least twice to step down, arguing that he’s worked with the same people for decades and never got a complaint and that he was simply joking. 

‘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. ‘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.’ 

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John Lavoie could be impeached – the first in 50 years in the state – for reportedly making misogynistic, racist and ableism comments toward his female staff – including making comments about their weight, telling them not to eat lunch and referring to one as a ‘whore’

He’s been compared to the All in the Family character Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor as Archie) , who often made off-the-cuff remarks

Lavoie, who did not receive a copy of the investigation report, reportedly apologized to his staff Tuesday. 

Although the Executive Committee of State’s Attorney cannot force Lavoie to resign, they have gone to the Professional Conduct Board, the State Ethics Commission and the Legislative Committee Impeachment Investigation to hopefully have something done. 

John Campbell, the executive director of the committee, said: ‘We are committed to ensuring that every member of the department, including our state attorneys, are held to these high standards. And most importantly, we are committed to protecting and supporting our state employees to ensure that their workplaces are free of harassment and discrimination.’ 

The damning report, which was released on April 27, detailed several allegations made by Lavoie’s employees. 

Several employees confirmed to investigators that Lavoie referred to one employee as a ‘[redacted] whore’ and would often say things like: ‘When [redacted] whore gets here, don’t let her leave’ and ‘Where’s [redacted] whore?’ 

He also reportedly referred to the same employee as a ‘slut bag,’ which he denied saying. 

Lavoie, who has been an attorney for nearly 40 years, also allegedly used the ‘c-word’ ‘on a regular basis’ in the office, which was confirmed by two witnesses. The attorney denied ever crossing that line. 

He also allegedly told another employee her boyfriend looked like a man before wiping the framed photo on his ‘backside,’ as well as pulling an employee’s badge – which was on a lanyard around her neck – until it broke before stuffing it ‘down the top of her dress,’ and told another employee she had ‘magnificent boobs,’ the report read. 

Lavoie also made several weight comments toward women in the office, including ‘pinching’ a woman’s midsection and telling her: ‘I don’t think you need to eat lunch today.’ 

The employee had asked him if she should get KFC or Taco Bell for lunch as she was ‘very hungry’ before he made the hurtful remarks, causing the woman to cry through her lunch after she made a ‘healthier’ choice before throwing it out.

The young woman, who was considering a law career, later told a school counselor about the incident, the report said. 

Another woman alleged he told her that Peloton bikes are ‘for fat people like you’ and ‘he made me cry again.’ 

Lavoie denied either incident ever occurred. 

In addition, to the misogynistic and sexist comments, Lavoie also reportedly used the n-word and at one point yelled: ‘F****** n**** b****.’ 

Several employees were able to confirm to investigators that Lavoie refers to one employee as a ‘[redacted] whore.’ He also allegedly told another employee her boyfriend looked like a man before wiping the framed photo on his ‘backside,’ as well as pulling an employee’s badge – which was on a lanyard around her neck – until it broke before stuffing it ‘down the top of her dress,’ and told another employee she had ‘magnificent boobs,’ the report read

He also reportedly made fun of Indians and called Native Americans ‘woo woo Indians.’ 

He also made degrading comments surrounding his employees’ intelligence, as well as ableism comments. 

Lavoie reportedly called his staff ‘f*******’ and ‘retards,’ and even told one of his employees: ‘[redacted] guess you aren’t the office retard, maybe you are just autistic or maybe it’s just Asperger’s.’ 

He also referred to a disabled employee, who is paralyzed from the waist down, as a ‘gimp,’ the report stated. 

Lavoie, a Democrat, won the state attorney position last year after working as a deputy attorney for 20 years in the office. 

The allegations were brought to the department in March, and now the Vermont House Speaker Jill Krowinski announced they are taking the first steps to impeach Lavoie. 

‘We take this seriously. We want to ensure justice is served and we want to make sure that the process is fair, thorough, and transparent,’ she said at a press conference on Tuesday. 

The ‘long and rigorous process’ will start by creating a seven-person bipartisan committee to collect evidence.