THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

WOMEN’S CAUCUS

**For Immediate Release** February 6, 2020

Contact:
[Co-Chair Rivera] Jeremy Unger 212-788-7366, junger@council.nyc.gov
[Co-Chair Chin] Marian Guerra 212-788-7259, mguerra@council.nyc.gov

The NYC Council Women’s Caucus’ Statement On

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance
CITY HALL - The 12 members of the New York City Council Women’s Caucus issued the following
joint statement on the serious mishandling of sexual assault cases by the Manhattan District
Attorney Cyrus Vance and his office:

“We, the members of the Women’s Caucus of the New York City Council, stand with Marissa
Hoechstetter, Evelyn Yang, and all the brave women who have come forward, at great risk to
themselves, to report and call out both the behavior of criminals – such as Robert Hadden, Harvey
Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, Dominique Strauss-Khan, and others – as well as the failings of the
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance and his office in their cases.

After serious reflection, we believe it is time for DA Vance to resign.

Under DA Vance's leadership, the Manhattan DA's office, and specifically their Sex Crimes Unit
and Special Victims Bureau, failed to protect and fight for survivors against rich, white, and
powerful men who committed countless sexual assaults.

Nearly 50 women to date have accused former Columbia University gynecologist Robert Hadden
of sexual abuse.1 Survivors have recounted a lengthy list of sexual abuses commited by Hadden,
including licking and digitally penetrating his patients' vaginas without gloves, and fondling their
breasts and anuses, all under the pretense of performing medical examinations. Two of the
plaintiffs said they were assaulted when they were 15 and 16 years old, at their first
gynecological examinations.2

1
https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2020/01/23/sexual-assault-survivors-call-on-cy-
vance-jr-to-resign-1253915
2
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cy-vance-manhattan-district-attorney-resignation-calls-evelyn-yang-sexual-
assault-allegations/
No person should ever have to experience such profound abuse from anyone, including at the
hands of a doctor, a position that incites such particular trust. But when the opportunity came to
punish Hadden, DA Vance chose differently.

DA Vance agreed to a plea deal in 2016 that did not seek a prison sentence, guaranteed his office
would not pursue any future sexual abuse allegations against him in the case, and reduced
Hadden’s sex offender status to the lowest level in New York State’s online sex offender registry,
Level 1. This status means that he will no longer have to register as a sex offender after 20 years.

In justifying this cozy plea deal, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Chief Assistant District Attorney for DA
Vance, cited “serious proof issues” with the case because the six pregnant women Hadden was
officially charged with abusing had obstructed views of their assaults which weakened their
allegations.3

One of the survivors that chose to speak out in the case, Ms. Hoechstetter, has since stated, “rather
than respect me and pursue justice, the DA chose to offer Hadden a plea some have called the deal
of the century.”4 And this is not the first time such a deal was made by this office. The DA
recommended the same sex offender status – Level 1 – for Jeffrey Epstein in 2011. And DA
Vance's staff has repeatedly ignored survivors' wishes as well as the recommendations of the
State Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders in countless other cases, by either declining
prosecution or offering favorable plea deals similar to those of Hadden and Epstein.

We refuse to accept this pattern of behavior, whether purposeful or a systemic failure, as the
status quo.

People like Hadden use their privilege and connections to receive preferential treatment from the
Manhattan prosecutors that are supposed to be fighting for victims. Meanwhile, DA Vance's office
continues to send countless poor New Yorkers to Rikers Island for minor infractions. It is clear
that DA Vance has failed to protect survivors and is actively perpetuating a tale of two justice
systems.

DA Vance must consider the damage his leadership has caused and resign so that the process of
rebuilding trust with the community can begin. All New Yorkers deserve equal protection and
treatment under the law, and right now no one believes that is what is happening here.”

3
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/22/nyregion/robert-hadden-gynecologist-sexual-abuse.html
4
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/23/us/hadden-accusers-call-for-vance-
resignation/index.html?utm_source=twCNN&utm_medium=social&utm_term=link&utm_content=2020-01-
24T00%3A13%3A02