Tom Perez Announces Resignation from Venable Following Hogan UI Lawsuit

July 2, 2021

Former Labor Secretary Tom Perez released the following statement on his resignation from Venable: “I have spent my life fighting on behalf of working people. Over the last few months I’ve been traveling and listening across Maryland, and one of the most frequent concerns I’ve heard has been from people who lost jobs during the pandemic. I met with the leaders of one union who told me that 85 percent of their members -- hospitality workers -- are still out of work. They desperately want to work, but the industry is nowhere near full recovery. Many Marylanders have waited six months or more to receive unemployment benefits. Now, instead of focusing on fixing the system, the governor is taking critical benefits away from families that need them to pay the rent and put food on the table. This is unconscionable.

“I have reviewed the lawsuit filed against Governor Hogan and spoken with advocates. The complaint raises key issues that are important to every Marylander. I learned late yesterday that Venable would be representing Governor Hogan in this case.

“After decades in public service, I decided to work part time at Venable while I was considering a run for governor. At Venable, I had an opportunity to work on issues of importance to me and the entire country, such as advancing clean energy priorities that benefit workers, the environment and communities. In addition, having been heavily involved in the Department of Justice’s police reform work as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, I respect the police reform work the firm has done in monitoring the Baltimore City Police Department’s consent decree.

“However, the firm has agreed to represent Governor Hogan in the case against unemployed Marylanders, and the governor’s position is inconsistent with my values and the future I want to build for Maryland. As a result, I have resigned from my position with the firm.

“I will continue to work to fight for the issues that I care about most and that I’ve been working for my entire life, and that is exactly why I’m running for Governor of Maryland.”

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