The ugliness over at the Human Rights Campaign over its president Alphonso David's alleged involvement in consulting with Andrew Cuomo regarding his sexual-harassment and sexual-assault scandal has gotten, well, uglier.
Over the weekend, David declared his involvement was deemed to have been nonexistent by an HRC investigation, that the report would not be released and that he would not resign in spite of being asked to do so by two Board members.
Late Monday, the Board fired David, issuing the following statement:
Last month, the Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation Boards of Directors announced a board-led investigation into Alphonso David’s actions related to the New York Attorney General’s report regarding the allegations of sexual harassment by former Governor Andrew Cuomo. This investigation was conducted through the Executive Committees of the Boards, constituted of their independent Directors, with the assistance of Sidley Austin. Following the completion of that investigation, the HRC and HRC Foundation Boards of Directors have voted to terminate Mr. David for cause, effective immediately, for violations of his contract with the Human Rights Campaign.
Yesterday and today, Mr. David released a statement that included significant untruths about the investigation and his status with the organization.
At HRC, we are fighting to bring full equality and liberation to LGBTQ+ people everywhere. That includes fighting on behalf of all victims of sexual harassment and assault. As outlined in the New York Attorney General report, Mr. David engaged in a number of activities in December 2020, while HRC President, to assist Governor Cuomo’s team in responding to allegations by Ms. Boylan of sexual harassment. This conduct in assisting Governor Cuomo’s team, while president of HRC, was in violation of HRC’s Conflict of Interest policy and the mission of HRC.
