A Pennsylvania Democrat who voted for his party in the House of Representatives is on the run after allegedly violating an abuse-related protection order, authorities told The Post.
Philadelphia police on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for state Rep. Kevin Boyle after the 44-year-old Democrat, who struggles with mental health issues but is still on the primary election ballot next week, violated the protection from abuse order, a department spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday afternoon.
Democrats control the Pennsylvania House of Representatives with a razor-thin majority of 102-101, meaning its absentee votes allow the party to pass legislation at this time.
“We attempted to remedy this situation this morning by requesting that Mr. Boyle be placed on leave,” said Republican caucus leader Rep. Bryan Cutler (Lancaster). “Democrats insist that not only is he not on leave, he is in fact entitled to vote.”
“You have an individual who is the subject of a warrant for his arrest and who is either a fugitive from justice and awaiting trial, or he is in communication with him regarding his votes and, therefore, he is harboring it and should communicate it to law enforcement,” he added.
This “shadow vote” even allowed Democrats in the House of Representatives to vote for Boyle on Wednesday on a motion allowing him to continue doing so.
The Philadelphia congressman had his security access to the state Capitol in Harrisburg revoked earlier this year following a weird, drunken outburst in which he harassed patrons at a bar in February.
Boyle was also arrested two years ago for violating a protection from abuse order filed by his now ex-wife, but those charges were later dropped and in 2022 he wrote to his constituents about having suffered a psychotic episode.
He was later treated at a mental rehabilitation center, with his older brother, U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, saying in a statement that his brother had made a “full recovery” before plunging back into the abyss of his illness.
The situation has been a “nightmare” for the Boyle family, he told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday.
“Kevin’s family, close friends and many colleagues did everything they could to get him into treatment, but we were frustrated by a system that gives little power to the loved ones of an adult with a serious condition mental health,” he said. said.
“For the next two years he was in perfect health and had no symptoms,” he added.
“He thrived in his job, was overwhelmingly re-elected, and became chairman of an important state legislative committee. We sincerely believed that his mental health problem was a thing of the past.
“It has been painful to see an intelligent, accomplished and kind-hearted person decline in such a precipitous manner,” Brendan Boyle also said.
On April 23, Kevin Boyle will face a major challenge from Sean Dougherty, who has received tens of thousands of dollars more from House Democrats, according to campaign filings.
He has worked in Northeast Philadelphia at the State House since 2011. The Post has contacted his office for comment.
New York Post
