WASHINGTON, D.C. — Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau released the following statement after learning that the unredacted independent report commissioned by the Office of the Inspector General was leaked to the media.
“I’m greatly disappointed that someone chose to leak the report to the media before redactions could be made to protect the victims. This is exactly the kind of thing that makes victims hesitate to come forward. Our Number One priority in this has been to protect the identities of the complainants and prevent them from being traumatized yet again.
“I am calling on all members of the media who have a copy of the report to exercise great restraint and to avoid sharing anything in the report that could even remotely identify the complainants.
“I have said since receiving the report Friday evening that I would work with the Council’s general counsel to share as much of it as possible with the public. I have again reached out to the Council’s Office of General Counsel to request expeditious – but careful – review and redaction so that we can release the report publicly.
“From the beginning, the goal of the report, which was the result of legislation I introduced, was transparency – residents and DC government employees should know if the original investigation was handled properly, and what recommendations the investigators have for improving procedures and protections.
“The independent investigation was critically important to giving the public confidence that no stone was unturned. The report also gives us important recommendations that will inform my second piece of legislation on this matter, which aims to improve sexual harassment policies and procedures in the executive branch and requires allegations against government employees in positions of power, including mayoral appointees, to be referred to a third-party investigator. That legislation will come up for additional review later this year.”
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