New York Gov. Hochul Suspends Press Secretary Amid Sexual Harassment Investigation

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has suspended her press secretary, Avi Small, pending an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment involving inappropriate touching of another male staffer. The alleged incident occurred during a staff retreat in Albany earlier this month. Hochul's office emphasized that the suspension was immediate upon receiving the complaint and reiterated the governor's zero tolerance policy for misconduct, highlighting the strong workplace protections and training instituted under her administration. Small, a trusted aide since Hochul became governor in 2021 following Andrew Cuomo's resignation amid a sexual harassment scandal, has not publicly responded to the allegations. Hochul has taken measures to prevent harassment in her office, including creating a human resources department within the Executive Chamber and requiring in-person anti-harassment training for staff. The investigation into the allegations remains ongoing.