East Haven Police Chief Denies Sexual Harassment Allegations Made Against Maturo

Legal Counsel for the Town of East Haven and Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. responded today to an e-mail sent by John R. Williams, the attorney representing the former town hall employee who filed a sexual harassment complaint against Maturo in July 2014.

The CHRO complaint filed in July by the employee alleges that Maturo made inappropriate sexual advance and comments towards her. The employee also filed a Federal Medical Leave Act lawsuit against the town saying she was pressured into returning to work after executing her FMLA leave on May 5.

“Attorney Williams’ e-mail to the press yesterday was nothing but a desperate media stunt intended to exert pressure on the Town and the Mayor ahead of an upcoming, routine mediation session before the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities,” Attorney Hugh Keefe said in a press release.

Keefe released a transcript of an interview by a private investigator with East Haven Police Chief Brent Larrabee in which Larrabee repeatedly denies the allegations giving rise to the complaint against the Mayor.

In an excerpt from the transcript, Larrabee is asked “So you never heard the mayor ever sexually harass or make… inappropriate comments… sexually towards Mrs. Carbone.” In response, Larrabee replies, “Mrs. Carbone or anybody.”

“According to media reports, Attorney Williams claims that the Commission found ‘probable merit’ for the allegations. The Commission has made no such finding. That’s like saying a jury has rendered a verdict of before the start of a trial. Attorney Williams’ comments are deliberately misleading and patently inaccurate,” Keefe said in the release.

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CHRO spokesperson Jim O’Neill told the Register that reasonable cause is the term the CHRO uses as opposed to probable merit, adding that it is a much lower standard that triggers the investigation.

According to Keefe, the point of CHRO mediation is to bring the parties together and open the lines of communication adding that when that hearing comes, the Mayor and Town will participate in the meeting with good faith. Keefe said no one, including Williams should assume that the town is participating in the meeting because they are not confident in their defense.

“Attorney Williams is attempting to try this case on the front page of the paper because he knows he can’t try it in a courtroom,” Keefe said in the release.

Related Stories:

CHRO Finds Reasonable Cause to Investigate Sexual Harassment Case Against East Haven Mayor

East Haven Woman Who Filed Sexual Assault Complaint Against Maturo Feels Intimidated at Hearing

East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. Accused of Sexual Harassment