Former FEMA personnel chief Corey Coleman is being investigated for allegedly sexually harassing women for years, The Washington Post reported.
Coleman, who quit last month, reportedly hired attractive women as possible sex partners for men, including friends from college, according to a preliminary seven-month internal probe. He resigned June 18 before a scheduled interview with investigators and FEMA officials have not been able to interview him since.
"What we uncovered was a systemic problem going back years," said FEMA Administrator William Long, adding he had referred some of the cases to the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general to look into possible criminal sexual assault.
"The biggest problem I may solve here may be the eradication of this cancer," Long said. "How many complaints were not heard? I've got to make sure we have a safe working environment for our employees."
Coleman, who was paid an annual salary of $177,150, led the personnel department from 2011 until his resignation. Long described a toxic environment in the human resources department Coleman led at FEMA headquarters, where he had hired many men who were friends and college fraternity brothers and women he had met on online dating sites and at bars – many who were unqualified.
Some were promoted without having to go through the required federal hiring channels, per the Post. Some women were then transferred in and out of departments so Coleman's friends could attempt sexual relationships with them, according to the employee statements. FEMA interviewed 73 current and former employees and took statements from 98 people.
The investigation, Long said, "is not going to stop with" Coleman.
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