Former DC deputy mayor faces sexual assault investigation – NBC4 Washington

Former chief of staff to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and his deputy John Falcicchio may face sexual assault investigations, a DC Council hearing revealed on Wednesday.

Outside lawyers who conducted an independent review of the sexual harassment allegations against Falcicchio concluded that his conduct involved sexual assault.

“This is very serious,” said City Councilor Brianne Nadeau. “We are talking about criminal conduct by the mayor’s top advisor.”

DC Inspector General Daniel Lucas testified that he has referred criminal complaints to more than one law enforcement agency for possible prosecution.

“Recommendations have been made, but I am not authorized to discuss who they were made to or what they were about for fear of undermining their work,” Lucas said.

“So you informed multiple law enforcement agencies?” asked Nadeau.

“The matter has been forwarded to the appropriate authorities,” Lucas replied.

He declined to specify whether these were federal or local agencies.

The mayor’s legal counsel, who oversaw the internal investigation, also included sexual assault in the list of crimes under investigation.

“We have offered to hand over anything related to sexual assault, public nuisance or other crimes to the Attorney General’s Office,” said Vanessa Natale, deputy director of legal advice at the mayor’s office.

None of the lawyers who testified Wednesday provided further details about the ongoing criminal investigation.

A tense exchange occurred between Councilmembers Zachary Parker and Natale over the dispute between the DC Attorney General and the Bowser administration surrounding the Attorney General’s evidence gathering.

“It just seems outrageous that something of this magnitude and importance, involving the mayor’s team, should be allowed to dictate what documents are shared,” Parker said. “Well, I think we should be very concerned, once again, that there has been some misconduct here, and it’s just…”

“Well, that’s quite a word you’re using in my conversation, okay?” Natale interrupted. “Because that’s not the case.”

“That was a deliberate word, because not only does it seem odd to me, but it seems to me as if you are hiding something,” Parker replied.

“I offered it to them,” Natale said. “How can I hide something I offered them?”

During the hearing, the mayor’s legal counsel agreed to provide the Attorney General with some documents from his investigation.

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