An independent investigation has revealed that former top adviser to Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, John Falcicchio, made unwanted sexual advances towards a female staffer. Falcicchio resigned 14 months ago after facing sexual harassment allegations from two female employees, with one woman’s attorneys making her allegations public. The investigation, conducted by the law firm Arnold & Porter, found that a third woman who did not file a complaint with the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel ultimately left her job due to Falcicchio’s behavior.
The report also uncovered that Falcicchio had a consensual romantic relationship with a fourth staffer that was on and off for an extended period of time. While the city’s sexual harassment policy did not explicitly prohibit such relationships at the time, it now does. The investigation did not find evidence that Falcicchio had manipulated hiring or promotions based on sexual attraction, nor did it find any instances of reward or retaliation against subordinates. However, Falcicchio was noted to show favoritism towards certain staffers, leading to workplace tension and disputes among his subordinates.
Despite being Bowser’s longest-serving political ally, Bowser was reportedly blindsided and disappointed by the allegations against Falcicchio. Two women who accused Falcicchio of sexual harassment recently reached settlements with the city, with one woman receiving a cash payment between $300,000 and $500,000. Attorneys for the women expressed disappointment and anger over the leaked details of the confidential report.
The report also includes recommendations for improving safety measures to prevent sexual harassment, such as establishing an anonymous complaint hotline for government employees to report allegations.
