Additionally, the investigation found that Freeman’s status
as a go-to source for the New York news media made it possible for him to
continuously victimize reporters who believed they were left with no recourse
in which to hold him accountable for his actions. The investigation uncovered
multiple such stories and first-hand accounts from reporters and public sector
employees.
“Mr. Freeman habitually engaged in sexual harassment of
multiple women over many years,” said Inspector General Tagliafierro. “Given
the stature Freeman attained during his tenure as executive director, his role
as the sole authority on government transparency, and the power dynamic he
repeatedly promoted, many of the women who spoke with my office said they
believed it would be futile to report his misconduct. However, there are now
multiple pathways for reporting such behavior and my office stands ready to
assist anyone who believes they have been victimized by state employees.”
The investigation began June 13, 2019, when the Offices of
the New York State Inspector General received a detailed written complaint from
a newspaper reporter alleging that at a meeting on May 23, 2019, Freeman
squeezed her shoulder; touched her waist, back, and buttocks with his hand;
parted her braids from her face and placed them behind her shoulder; hugged
her; and kissed her on her cheek while holding her head. The complainant also described very personal
and inappropriate statements made by Freeman to her at this meeting, which
included gender- and racially-based derogatory comments.
A review of Freeman’s work emails revealed his repeated
inappropriate use of State resources.
Specifically, this review found that Freeman used his work email account
to improperly communicate with a woman he had met as part of his official
duties. This series of sexually
suggestive emails from October 2018 through June 2019 included provocative
photographic images sent by the woman to Freeman.
Additionally, a forensic computer analysis of Freeman’s work
computer revealed several image files of naked women and hundreds of image
files depicting scantily clad women, all likely obtained through the internet.
The New York State Office of Information Technology Services, which is
responsible for the Committee on Open Government’s computer systems, repeatedly
removed and reinstalled all software on Freeman’s work computer because its
operating system had become plagued with viruses and other malicious software.
Further, the investigation found that the New York
Department of State, in which the Committee on Open Government is housed, was
aware of and had acted against Freeman for prior incidents of inappropriate
conduct toward women. Specifically, the investigation found that the Department
of State verbally admonished Freeman in 2003 after a coworker complained that
Freeman had kissed her while the two were in a hotel lobby on a business
trip. And in 2013, Freeman was
investigated by the Department of State for claims of inappropriate behavior in
the workplace towards several female department employees.
On June 24, 2019, the Inspector General referred initial
findings to the Department of State, which terminated Freeman’s employment that
day.
In the aftermath of Freeman’s termination, numerous
additional allegations surfaced regarding Freeman’s conduct toward members of
the media as well as State and local government employees. Several newspapers published reporters’
accounts of their uncomfortable encounters with Freeman that exhibited common
themes.
The findings of this investigation illustrate Freeman’s
continual abuse of his official position.
As such, this report was provided to the New York State Joint Commission
on Public Ethics for its review of possible violations of the New York State
Public
The full report is available on the Inspector General’s website: Investigation of Robert Freeman, Former Executive Director of the New York State Committee on Open Government.
