NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Former Human Rights Campaign president Alphonso David vowed late Monday to take legal action against the organization's board hours after he was fired for advising former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's during his sexual misconduct scandal.
"After I demanded truth and transparency, the HRC board co-chairs who should stand for human rights elected to hide in the darkness," said David, who led the U.S. largest LGBTQ advocacy group. "They unjustly provided notice of termination to me in order to end my fight for the integrity of the review process and for what is right. I asked for the report, they refused. They lied about producing the report."
He added, "Now that they are being called to task, they tried to shut me up. As a Black, gay man who has spent his whole life fighting for civil and human rights, they cannot shut me up. Expect a legal challenge.”
David was removed Monday by the Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation Boards of Directors after an independent investigation found he, along with others, advised Cuomo's response to his misconduct allegations.
The HRC board led it's own investigation after James' blockbuster report was released in early August.
"As outlined in the New York Attorney General report, Mr. David engaged in a number of activities in December 2020, while HRC President, to assist Governor Cuomo’s team in responding to allegations by Ms. Boylan of sexual harassment," Morgan Cox and Jodie Patterson, co-chairs of Human Rights Campaign's board, the board and advocacy group. "This conduct in assisting Governor Cuomo’s team, while president of HRC, was in violation of HRC’s Conflict of Interest policy and the mission of HRC."
The New York Post reports David's name reportedly was quickly scrubbed from the organization's website minutes after his announcing his firing.
His remarks came after the entire board of the sexual harassment charity TIME’S UP— including Shonda Rhimes and Eva Longoria — resigned due to a leadership “crisis” after then-CEO Tina Tchen stepped down.
James found Tchen also aided helped the disgraced former governor's response to the scandal.
“We see the current crisis within TIME’S UP as an important opportunity for growth and change,” TIME'S UP said. “TIME’S UP is ready for new leadership, and we want to move forcefully toward its new iteration.”
Interim heads have been tapped to replace both groups.