3. Employee claims she was sexually harassed by former DC deputy mayor, details report

A redacted version of an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against John Falcicchio revealed that a third employee claims she was targeted by the D.C. mayor’s former chief of staff.

D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau released the report Friday following an independent investigation that examined complaints against Mayor Muriel Bowser’s former top aide.

Nadeau said the mayor’s office’s investigation into the sexual harassment allegations was conducted with integrity, but there was a lack of resources, which resulted in some evidence, such as B. government devices have not been checked.

“There are some best practices that our government is still not following that need to be implemented, and they need to be the law and not just the mayor’s order,” Nadeau said.

Going forward, there should always be an independent investigation, Nadeau said. This cost taxpayers $750,000 and it turned out that a third subordinate who was sexually harassed by Falcicchio did not report it.

The redacted report also found that the former chief of staff and D.C. deputy mayor had a consensual relationship with a subordinate.

“They call it a modus operandi to have sexual relationships with subordinates and to use the office as a ‘dating pool,'” Nadeau said.

Her comments on the report came after a full version – without redactions – was leaked by a media representative on Monday evening.

“I am deeply disappointed that someone leaked the report to the media before editorial action could be taken to protect the victims. This is exactly what makes victims hesitant to come forward. Our top priority here was to protect the complainants’ identities and prevent them from being re-traumatized,” Nadeau wrote in a statement on Monday.

Last week, DC also reached a settlement with two women who accused Falcicchio of sexual harassment.

Lawyers representing the two women issued a statement saying they also could not discuss details related to the settlement.

WTOP’s Nick Iannelli contributed to this report.

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