The Human Rights Campaign fired its president, Alphonso David, after an independent investigation confirmed that he aided New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to smear and silence a sexual assault accuser, Fox News reported.
HRC’s investigation found that 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. [Lindsey] 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,” the investigation concluded.
David has denied the allegation that he helped Cuomo silence credible sexual misconduct claims.
He wrote on Twitter that HRC’s board “unjustly provided notice of termination to me in order to end my fight for the integrity of the review process and for what is right.”
David promised a lawsuit against HRC.
“As a black, gay man who has spent his whole life fighting for civil and human rights, they cannot shut me up,” he said. “Expect a legal challenge.”
David came under fire in early August when New York Attorney General Letitia James released a report on Cuomo’s sexual misconduct that included David’s name.
The report said that David released the personnel documents of Lindsey Boylan, one of Cuomo’s former aides and a sexual assault accuser, at the behest of Cuomo’s secretary, Melissa DeRosa.
The HRC board said that David did not disclose his work as an advisor to Cuomo.
Joni Madison now serves as HRC’s interim president.
“As we move forward, our work fighting for all LGBTQ+ people, especially the most marginalized people in our community, remains at our core,” HRC’s co-chairs said.
This articles includes reporting from the Associated Press.
