In January 2018, following the revelation that he used taxpayers' money to settle a sexual harassment claim brought by a female staff member, Meehan announced that he would retire from Congress at the end of his current term, and not seek re-election in 2018.

[2] Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon won both a special and general election on the day of that year's midterms in November to succeed him.

[3] Meehan attended Temple Law School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1986 with his Juris Doctor degree.

[4] Meehan's career in public service and politics began in 1979 when he worked with Republican candidate David Marston on his Philadelphia mayoral campaign.

Meehan established the United States Department of Justice's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) in Pennsylvania.

The ICAC is a special unit of detectives who investigate online predators on the web and bring them to justice; it has become a model across the country.

As U.S. Attorney, Meehan made terrorism, gang-related crime, child internet safety, and public corruption priorities for his criminal division.

[7] Recognizing the expansion of gang-related activity in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, Meehan sought a $2.5 million Department of Justice grant to fight and prevent gang violence for the region.

Meehan's office prosecuted substandard nursing homes and elder care facilities, and nefarious lenders who offered ill-advised loans to disadvantaged homeowners.

The office won more than half a billion dollars in settlements against some of the largest pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers, ensuring better self-policing and oversight by the industry.

"[10] This was brought to national attention on October 7, 2003, when Philadelphia Police conducted a sweep of Mayor John F. Street's office and found an electronic listening device.

The Speaker of the House summarily removed him from the committee in January 2018, and directed Meehan to repay to taxpayers the full cost of his secret sexual harassment settlement.

Reports indicated that another candidate, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett, was too far ahead of Meehan in fundraising and endorsements.

Senator Arlen Specter in 2010 in the Democratic Party primary, but lost to Republican Pat Toomey in the general election.

To appear on the primary election ballot a candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania is required to collect valid signatures of 1,000 registered voters in the congressional district.

Because the Attorney General, Tom Corbett, is the Republican candidate for governor, Lentz requested that the United States Department of Justice take over the investigation.

[31] Meehan's 7th district had been considered the poster child for egregious gerrymandering and its shape compared to an alien character from the classic arcade game Space Invaders.

[36] In February 2017, while serving on the Ways and Means Committee, he voted against a measure that would have led to a request of the Treasury Department for President Donald Trump's tax returns.

[44] In June, Meehan announced that six Chester County fire companies in Pennsylvania will receive $430,000 in federal grants to purchase new radios and rescue equipment.

Meehan has held hearings to investigate issues such as Iran's ties to terrorism and the risks posed by extremists in Pakistan.

If signed into law, the bill would require more oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity goals, according to Ripon Advance.

[59][60] The New York Times revealed in January 2018 that Meehan used taxpayers' money to settle a sexual harassment claim brought by a female staff member.

[15] A few days later in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Meehan denied harassment and said he was not sexually interested in the staffer, though explained she was his "soul mate" and he had reacted poorly to learning she had a new boyfriend.

"[2][64] Following his resignation from Congress, Meehan worked as a consultant, forming the firm Harvey Run Strategies, and registered as a lobbyist.

[65] Meehan, his wife Carolyn and their three sons live in Delaware County, Pennsylvania,[66] – in Chadds Ford as of 2017[67] and formerly Drexel Hill.