An expensive third party investigation into sexual harassment allegations against D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s former chief of staff John Falcicchio “was worth every penny,” according to D.C. Council member Brianne Nadeau.
during Presentation of Yeleen Beauty Announcement as U.S., African Companies Announce New Commitments in US-Africa Business Forum Deal Room at Walter E. Washington Convention Center on December 14, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Prosper Africa)(Getty Images for Prosper Africa/Tasos Katopodis)
An expensive third-party investigation into sexual harassment allegations against D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s former chief of staff John Falcicchio “was worth every penny,” according to D.C. Council member Brianne Nadeau, one of the lawmakers who pushed for the investigation.
“This report lays out recommendations from an independent investigator on how the mayor’s investigation into Falcicchio’s actions could have been handled differently and better,” Nadeau said.
It also makes recommendations as to what the D.C. government can do to prevent sexual harassment in the future, according to Nadeau.
In a statement Friday, Nadeau said the investigation had been completed and that she was determining which parts of it could potentially be released to the public.
That process is ongoing, Nadeau confirmed Monday.
“I’m working right now with our general counsel to determine which things in the report need to be redacted for the privacy of the complainants,” Nadeau said. “Once we’ve gotten through that process, we should be able to release that to the public.”
The D.C. Office of the Inspector General hired a law firm to carry out the investigation, which cost taxpayers nearly $750,000.
“I believe this was worth every penny so that we can ensure the public understands what process really occurred and what we need to do better with their tax dollars in protecting the employees of the District of Columbia,” Nadeau said.
Prior to this, the only investigation that had taken place was done by the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel.
Nadeau and others had called for a third party to look into the allegations, claiming that having the mayor’s own attorneys investigate the matter could be considered a conflict of interest.
Bowser said Monday she had seen the report, but was told by the inspector general’s office not to comment publicly.
“The inspector general asked for confidentiality so I’m respectful of that,” Bowser said. “I think the IG and the council should decide how we’re going to proceed.”
Two city employees had accused Falcicchio of sexual misconduct.
Last week, the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel confirmed it had reached a settlement with the two women, but that it could not disclose terms due to “confidentiality provisions.”
Attorneys representing the women released a statement saying they also could not discuss details involving the settlement.
According to The Washington Post, the settlement with one of the women involved a cash payment ranging from $300,000 to $500,000.
In addition to being the mayor’s chief of staff, Falcicchio had also been serving as the city’s deputy mayor for planning and economic development.
Falcicchio resigned from his roles with the city last year when the allegations first came to light.
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Nick Iannelli
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