DC released more details from the investigation into ex-deputy mayor John Falcicchio

A new document from city government shows that a second employee experienced sexual harassment by former deputy mayor John John Falcicchio.

Falcicchio, the former chief of staff for Mayor Muriel Bowser and deputy mayor for planning and economic development (DMPED), resigned abruptly in March amid sexual harassment allegations. In June, the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel (MOLC) released a summary of the findings that substantiated claims of physical advances and inappropriate messages by Falcicchio. The summary did not substantiate claims that the employee had also experienced retaliation from senior staffers in the DMPED office (this doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen, just that there’s a lack of physical evidence).

Similar to the first investigation, a summary of findings released Monday sustained claims that Falcicchio made physical sexual advances and offered unwanted romantic attention to a second staffer. The MOLC did not sustain claims that Falcicchio reduced her duties and responsibilities. It also did not find evidence that a senior staffer in the DMPED office did not include the complainant in emails or did not respond to emails, gave the staffer a low evaluation score or belittled her and cut her off during meetings.

Before his resignation, Falcicchio was a regular face in DC tech and startup development, partnering with WeWork, Google and the local business improvement districts to train tech workers and develop return-to-work policies. He helped establish DC’s Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund for entrepreneurs, the Small Business Bond program and the mobility innovation district.

Mayor Bowser declined to say whether or not the staffer in question had been disciplined. Vanessa Natale, deputy director of MOLC, reiterated that an unsubstantiated claim doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen, just that it lacked evidence.

“How people behave and deal with each other in the office, we all wish we could behave better, I’m sure my colleagues say that about me,” Natale said in a press conference. “But what occurred here didn’t rise to any level of any kind of adverse action against that person.”

Earlier this month, DC Council unanimously passed legislation calling for an outside review of the MOLC investigation by DC’s inspector general. Mayor Bowser did not say whether or not she would be signing the bill for an outside investigation, just that she would be reviewing it.

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