New York Governor Hochul’s news secretary resigns over sexual harassment allegations, sparking concerns about office culture.
According to sources who spoke to Politico, state news secretary Avi Small was accused of inappropriate physical contact with colleagues at a bar in Albany on June 16, leading to allegations of sexual harassment. Hochul’s office received the complaint on June 25 and immediately suspended Small pending an investigation.
The investigation is nearing completion, but the findings have not been made public yet. Small officially submitted his resignation on June 28, which took immediate effect. In his resignation letter, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the government and the people of New York for nearly four years.
Furthermore, sources also revealed that earlier this year, Small had faced internal complaints regarding workplace behavior, including harshly berating subordinates, interrogating colleagues in storage rooms, and discussing personal sexual matters in the office.
Small had served as Hochul’s news secretary since July 2023, being one of the closest aides to the governor and frequently accompanying her to events. His social media accounts indicate that Hochul had even officiated his wedding.
Governor Hochul took office in 2021 after former Governor Cuomo resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal, promising to create a “zero-tolerance” workplace culture. Hochul’s office has not commented on the case but stated that appropriate action has been taken.