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

New York Gov Kathy Hochul s top aide who was not long ago placed on leave over a sexual harassment allegation reportedly had previous complaints filed against him which led to an analysis 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 support department and an outside law firm conducted the review HOCHUL FAILS TO CRACK BUT TOPS PROMISING GOP CHALLENGES BY DOUBLE DIGITS IN NY GOVERNOR RACE POLLThe people familiar with the matter who spoke with Politico announced Small had a history of yelling at younger staff making several employees afraid to work with him Politico stated that four out of the five who spoke with the outlet announced they witnessed Small chastising staffers over errors in press releases or if the governor s speaking engagements did not go as planned The inquiry into Small s healing of junior staff did not development in a human support violation Politico released citing another person familiar with the outcome That source reportedly advised Politico that Hochul had inadvertently created a system in which statements swiftly 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 shared that several staffers met with human information after the conclusion of the review to ask about the lack of information on the probe s outcome The staffers were reportedly encouraged not to discuss the statements against Small Additionally multiple sources reportedly described Politico that there was information given to human materials about Small cornering a subordinate in a supply closet and questioning them Small was lately 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 noted 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 accusations 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 publicized new initiatives aimed at tackling workplace bullying and discrimination Hochul s office did not instantly 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