AG James makes appointments to lead investigation into sexual harassment allegations against governor

Taps former US SDNY attorney Joon H. Kim, employment discrimination attorney Anne L. Clark

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday announced the appointment of former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim and employment discrimination attorney Anne L. Clark as the two attorneys who will lead an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment leveled against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Kim and Clark will be supported in the investigation by Jennifer Kennedy Park, Abena Mainoo and Yannick Grant.

“We are committed to an independent and thorough investigation of the facts,” James said. “Joon H. Kim and Anne L. Clark are independent, legal experts who have decades of experience conducting investigations and fighting to uphold the rule of law. There is no question that they both have the knowledge and background necessary to lead this investigation and provide New Yorkers with the answers they deserve.”

This team is charged with conducting a thorough and independent investigation of, and the circumstances surrounding, allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo, including his administration's handling of such matters. This work will be comprised of – but not limited to – issuing subpoenas and related compliance; examination of relevant documents and records; interviews, including formal depositions; and analysis of data and information pertinent to the investigation. As required by the enabling statute, the team will report weekly on the investigation to the Office of the Attorney General throughout the duration of the investigation. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the team will produce a written report, which will include its findings. The report will be made available to the general public.

Kim is a partner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, focusing on internal investigations and regulatory enforcement, as well as high-stakes litigation. He has enjoyed a distinguished career over two decades at high levels of government and in private practice at the firm, personally trying over a dozen federal jury trials and actively participating in dozens more.

From March 2017 to January 2018, Kim served as the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. As the most senior federal law enforcement officer in the district, he oversaw all criminal and civil litigation conducted on behalf of the U.S. and supervised the work of approximately 220 assistant U.S. attorneys handling a wide range of cases, including public corruption, fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, cryptocurrency, tax litigation, terrorism, racketeering, Bank Secrecy Act and sanctions violations, and theft of trade secrets and economic espionage, as well as civil rights, civil enforcement, and environmental matters. Before becoming acting U.S. attorney, Kim served in various leadership positions in the office, including deputy U.S. attorney, chief of the criminal division, and chief counsel to the U.S. attorney.

Clark is a partner at Vladeck, Raskin & Clark P.C., where she focuses on employment law issues on behalf of employees at the trial and appellate levels. She has successfully represented plaintiffs in numerous sexual harassment and other employment discrimination cases in the private sector, in education, and in government.

Prior to joining Vladeck nearly 30 years ago, Clark was a Skadden Fellow/staff attorney at the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund (currently known as Legal Momentum), where she worked on the Eleventh Circuit appeal of the landmark sexual harassment case Robinson v. Jacksonville Shipyards, Inc.

Early in her career, Clark was a law clerk for the Hon. Raymond J. Pettine in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.