NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Mr Alphonso David, president of Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the United States, was fired on Monday (Sept 6) after a US Attorney-General report said he had advised former New York governor Andrew Cuomo on how to handle sexual harassment allegations, the organisation's board said.
His dismissal was announced by HRC board co-chairs Morgan Cox and Jodie Patterson in a statement that said that his actions in assisting Mr Cuomo's teams had violated the campaign's mission.
It also accused Mr David of making statements that included "significant untruths" about the investigation and his role in the organisation.
"At HRC, we are fighting to bring full equality and liberation to LGBTQ+ people everywhere. That includes fighting on behalf of all victims of sexual harassment and assault," the statement said.
David said the Human Rights Campaign board had "unjustly" terminated him.
"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 said in a statement.
According to Mr David's LinkedIn profile, he was president of HRC for more than two years, having spent over eight years prior to that working for Mr Cuomo's office - first as counsel for civil rights and then as chief counsel.
The report by Letitia James, the New York State attorney general, described allegations of sexual harassment by Cuomo, and efforts by his aides to retaliate against the former governor's accusers.
David was identified in the report as involved in efforts to undermine Cuomo's first accuser, Lindsey Boylan.
Mr Cuomo, 63, stepped down as governor in August after a state investigation concluded that he sexually harassed women who worked for him. He said it was "unfair" that he had to resign. He at times expressed regret for making young women uncomfortable, but denied criminal wrongdoing.
The HRC board said that Mr David's conduct had violated the group's "conflict of interest" policy and that it resulted in "material damage" to the reputations of Mr David and of the group.
