The press secretary to Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York resigned on Friday, days after the governor’s office confirmed to The New York Times that it was investigating an allegation that he inappropriately touched another male aide.
The press secretary, Avi Small, was placed on leave last week while lawyers from a private firm contracted by Ms. Hochul’s office looked into an incident that took place at a bar in Albany, N.Y., after an all-staff retreat on June 16. Their investigation concluded this week, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The circumstances surrounding Mr. Small’s departure were particularly sensitive to Ms. Hochul, who became governor in 2021 after her predecessor, Andrew M. Cuomo, resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment and fostering a toxic workplace environment. Ms. Hochul, who will be on the ballot again next year, had promised to run an office free of the kind of behavior Mr. Cuomo was accused of. (He continues to deny the allegations.)
Mr. Small, 32, joined Ms. Hochul’s office months after she became governor and soon emerged as one of her most trusted aides, often by her side at the State Capitol and at events across New York.
“For nearly four years, I’ve spent every day working to serve this administration and the people of New York,” Mr. Small wrote in his resignation letter, which was addressed to Anthony Hogrebe, Ms. Hochul’s communications director, and Karen Persichilli Keogh, the secretary to the governor. “I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Mr. Hogrebe confirmed Mr. Small’s departure.
When Ms. Hochul took over as governor, she set up a human resources department in her office that had not previously existed, and required staff members to undergo training on harassment and discrimination policies. She also instituted more stringent processes for responding to sexual misconduct allegations by state employees. An outside law firm, Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP, was put on retainer to “investigate any claims of unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation” in the governor’s office, according to an announcement in 2021.