D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s longtime top adviser, John Falcicchio, sexually harassed a second government employee who worked in the office he oversaw as deputy mayor, according to an internal report released Monday by her administration.

The three-page report by the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel substantiates the employee’s claims that Falcicchio made unwelcome physical sexual advances on five different occasions in 2020, most of which occurred while the employee was at his apartment at his direction for work purposes. The report also substantiates Falcicchio sent the employee unwanted flirtatious messages and asked personal questions about her romantic life in order to manipulate her and gain her trust. Two other allegations regarding workplace retaliation were not substantiated.

This is the second D.C. government employee to credibly accuse Falcicchio of sexual harassment. The first individual came forward with her story in March 2023. The Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel investigated those sexual harassment claims and released its findings in June, substantiating accusations Falcicchio made unwanted sexual advances, like exposing his sexual organs and sending thousands of sexually-charged messages, including a demand for sex.

Like the second report, the first one did not substantiate claims that Falcicchio and other senior staff retaliated against the staffer for rebuffing his sexual advances. The June report did find Falcicchio “gave preferential assignments to women he found attractive and used the workplace as a ‘dating pool.’” The latest report found “some evidence” to suggest that a senior staffer at the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development treated the accuser in an “unprofessional manner,” but couldn’t prove it was at the behest of their boss, Falcicchio.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, Bowser says she’s “grateful” to the investigators at the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel “who worked diligently” and “for handling a thorough process.”

Debra S. Katz and Kayla Morin, prominent attorneys of the Me Too era who are representing the two D.C. government employees, said in a statement Monday they are “gratified” that the newly-released report substantiates their client’s allegations. They also say the second report establishes “a disturbing and longstanding pattern of predatory behavior by one of the most powerful men in Washington.” The lawyers urged government officials to immediately implement comprehensive reforms to safeguard against sexual harassment.

Bowser said at the press conference to expect changes to the 2017 mayoral order that says nearly all sexual harassment claims must be handled internally. The mayor declined to comment on possible settlement agreements with the two employees.

Neither Falcicchio nor his attorney, Grace Speights, immediately responded to request for comment.

Falcicchio ultimately declined to be interviewed for the investigation, according to the newly-released report. He had initially agreed to be interviewed in mid April, the report says, but then cancelled and declined other offers to speak through an interview or written inquiry. He also declined to participate in the first investigation against him, per the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel.

Vanessa Natale, deputy director of the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel, said at that same mayoral press conference Monday that none of the roughly 30 witnesses interviewed attested to knowing of sexual harassment complaints before the two workers came forward with their allegations. “Gossip is something else, and there’s always a lot of gossip,” she said. “But we do our work with with facts, not gossip or opinions.”

Falcicchio wore many hats in D.C. government during his decade-plus political career, most recently as both Bowser’s chief of staff and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. He suddenly resigned in March, after being one of Bowser’s longest-serving and highest-ranking aides. The mayor announced his departure in a single sentence in a Friday evening press release at the time, making no mention of the sexual harassment accusations and instead noting he was transitioning to the private sector. Only after rumors circulated about the reasons for his departure did the mayor announce an investigation into her former right-hand man. But Katz and Morin were the ones to first share that the investigation related to allegations of sexual harassment.

D.C.’s inspector general is expected to review the internal investigations that substantiated accusations of sexual harassment by Falcicchio, after the Council passed legislation earlier this month. The legislation also requires the inspector general to look into workplace culture or retaliation. Bowser has said the outside investigation is unnecessary, calling the internal investigation conducted by her Office of Legal Counsel thorough. Bowser said she has not signed the legislation, which is before her desk; it’s unclear if she will or will let it pass without her signature.  The D.C. Council is also expected to pass legislation in the fall that would require an outside review of sexual harassment claims made by all government employees.

This post has been updated to include details from the mayor’s press conference Monday afternoon.