Hochul aide accused of sexual harassment was focus of prior behavior probe: report

New York Gov Kathy Hochul s top aide who was in recent days placed on leave over a sexual harassment allegation reportedly had previous complaints filed against him which led to an examination Avi Small Hochul s press secretary was reportedly the subject of complaints for allegedly berating junior staff members according to Politico The outlet cited five people with direct knowledge of the probe who were granted anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter According to Politico the governor s human tools department and an outside law firm conducted the inquiry HOCHUL FAILS TO CRACK BUT TOPS EXPECTED GOP CHALLENGES BY DOUBLE DIGITS IN NY GOVERNOR RACE POLLThe people familiar with the matter who spoke with Politico reported Small had a history of yelling at younger staff making several employees afraid to work with him Politico informed that four out of the five who spoke with the outlet declared they witnessed Small chastising staffers over errors in press releases or if the governor s speaking engagements did not go as planned The analysis into Small s rehabilitation of junior staff did not upshot in a human information violation Politico disclosed citing another person familiar with the outcome That source reportedly notified Politico that Hochul had inadvertently created a system in which statements rapidly led to serious probes that could tarnish a subject s reputation Law firm Calcagni Kanefsky reportedly conducted interviews with Hochul s staff regarding Small s conduct According to Politico which cited sources staffers were worried when they learned an expansion of deputy secretaries responsibilities would mean Small would work more closely with underlings FORMER TOP HOCHUL AIDE'S UNEARTHED FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO CCP RAISES ALARM BELLSPolitico broadcasted that several staffers met with human tools after the conclusion of the inspection to ask about the lack of information on the probe s outcome The staffers were reportedly encouraged not to discuss the assertions against Small Additionally multiple sources reportedly notified Politico that there was information given to human information about Small cornering a subordinate in a supply closet and questioning them Small was in the last few days placed on leave over an allegation that he inappropriately touched a staffer during an office retreat in Albany on June according to reports Multiple outlets stated that the governor s office claimed action was taken against Small shortly after the complaint was filed When Hochul took over for former Gov Andrew Cuomo after he was ousted amid sexual harassment charges in she vowed that no one will ever describe my administration as a toxic work ecosystem Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing In October according to a press release from Calcagni Kanefsky Hochul broadcasted new initiatives aimed at tackling workplace bullying and discrimination Hochul s office did not forthwith respond to Fox News Digital s request for comment which was submitted on July Fox News Digital was also unable to get in contact with Small