The legal community in Allegheny County was shaken as Lena Bryan-Henderson, the Chief Public Defender, was dismissed after initially being put on administrative leave last month. Bryan-Henderson, who ascended to the role in January 2024, making her the first Black woman to hold the position, confirmed to WPXI that her employment was terminated yesterday. Her firing follows an investigation into allegations against her, the nature of which has yet to be fully disclosed.
During the investigation, which began over a month ago, Bryan-Henderson was swiftly escorted off county property. The precise reasons for her firing, however, remain unclear. To some, the situation may have evolved too quickly since this invasive investigation took hold, raising questions among Bryan-Henderson's supporters and the wider community. Abigail Gardner, a spokesperson for Allegheny County, has confirmed that the termination came as a result of the inquiry's undisclosed findings, according to TribLIVE.
Following her ousting from the office, Bryan-Henderson addressed her support base in a letter, revealing that she was accused of making insensitive remarks regarding pregnancy and Native Americans, and of inappropriate questioning about gender at birth. The probe reportedly included 25 claims, some anonymous, and left much about the nature of the allegations shrouded in confidentiality.
