NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A top aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul was placed on leave last week amid a sexual harassment allegation.
Avi Small, who has served as Hochul’s press secretary since 2021, is accused of inappropriately touching another male staffer during an all-staff retreat on June 16 in Albany, the New York Times reported Wednesday. Small declined to comment.
Hochul, who took office after Andrew Cuomo resigned over sexual harassment allegations, has had a “zero tolerance” policy toward such behavior.
In a statement to 1010 WINS, the governor's communications director, Anthony Hogrebe, said the matter is under investigation.
"Governor Hochul has zero tolerance for misconduct by any New York State employee, and has instituted the strongest workplace protections and training policies in state history," Hogrebe said. "While we cannot comment on an open investigation, as soon as a complaint was brought to the chamber, the employee in question was placed on leave."