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U.S. NEWS Thursday 10 sepTember 2020
NY doctor charged in serial sexual assaults on patients

By LARRY NEUMEISTER and and what was not." After
JIM MUSTIAN Hadden's arrest, Andrew
Associated Press Yang tweeted: "So proud
NEW YORK (AP) — A former of @EvelynYang - this guy
New York gynecologist ac- belongs behind bars. Thank
cused of sexually abusing you to everyone who sup-
dozens of patients, includ- ported her." Previously, Ev-
ing the wife of former Dem- elyn Yang had called Had-
ocratic presidential can- den's earlier punishment
didate Andrew Yang, was under the state plea deal,
charged Wednesday with under which he admitted
attacking girls and women to forcible touching and
for nearly two decades us- one count of a criminal sex
ing the cover of medical act, a "slap on the wrist."
examinations. Hadden faces a civil law-
Prosecutors described the suit brought by more than
doctor, Robert A. Hadden, two dozen accusers who
62, as a "predator in a white say he groped and pen-
coat," accusing him of sin- etrated patients during
gling out young and unsus- vaginal examinations and
pecting victims, including "mole checks" that served
a young girl he'd delivered "no medical purpose."
at birth. The federal charg- He also took steps to keep
es will be the second time Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to an patients coming back, like
Hadden is prosecuted over image depicting Robert Hadden during a news conference to announce his arrest and indictment, offering free birth control,
alleged abuse of patients. Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in New York. Associated Press. Strauss said.
He surrendered his medical Danny Frost, a spokes-
license in a 2016 plea deal was criticized as lax. He on his adult victims." traveled from out of state man for Vance, said state
with the Manhattan District then killed himself in a fed- "He used the cover of con- to see Hadden. It said Had- prosecutors provided "sub-
Attorney that didn't require eral jail. ducting medical examina- den invited his victims to stantial assistance" lead-
him to serve any jail time. Hadden was arrested at tions to engage in sexual meet with him alone in his ing to federal indictment.
Outrage over that light pun- his home in Englewood, abuse that he passed off office, where he frequently The Manhattan District At-
ishment built as the #MeToo New Jersey, a community as normal and medically raised "inappropriate and torney's Office is still con-
movement gained mo- 10 miles outside Manhat- necessary," Strauss said. "His irrelevant sexual topics" by ducting its own "intensely
mentum and more women tan. He was to appear later conduct was neither nor- asking "detailed, inappro- active" investigation into
told their stories publicly, Wednesday in Manhattan mal nor medically neces- priate questions about their "potential failures by Dr.
including Evelyn Yang, who federal court on six counts sary." The indictment said own sexual activities and Hadden's employer and
earlier this year told CNN of inducing others to trav- Hadden sexually abused sexual partners." hospital to disclose addi-
that Hadden assaulted her el to engage in illegal sex dozens of female patients, Strauss and William F. Swee- tional incidents of abuse to
in 2012, including when she acts. Isabelle Kirshner, Had- including multiple minors, ney Jr., the head of New our office and to regulators
was seven months preg- den's attorney, declined at his medical offices and York's FBI office, urged vic- when required."
nant. Wednesday's charg- comment. Manhattan hospitals from tims who had not reported Marissa Hoechstetter, an-
es represented the second Audrey Strauss, the act- 1993 through at least 2012 their abuse to call the FBI. other Hadden accuser, has
recent instance when fed- ing U.S. attorney in Man- while he worked as a medi- Sweeney called the al- said Vance's office misled
eral prosecutors eclipsed hattan, said Hadden, had cal doctor at Columbia leged crimes "just outra- her about the statute of
a state sex abuse prosecu- "inappropriately touched, University and at New York geous" and said Hadden limitations in Hadden's case
tion criticized as lenient. squeezed and even licked Presbyterian Hospital. manipulated dozens of and was already negotiat-
Financier Jeffrey Epstein his victims" and subjected The indictment detailed women including several ing the plea deal when she
faced federal sex traffick- a young girl he'd delivered what it described as the minors who had "no un- was still talking to prosecu-
ing charges last year after as a baby "to the same sort abuse of one minor female derstanding of what to tors about testifying at a
a Florida state prosecution of sexual abuse he inflicted and five adult women who expect, what was normal potential trial.q

Black defendant argues masks at trial could prejudice jury

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A Black man who is trial by agreeing to delay his trial until after the how to safely conduct trials. The Maine CDC
going to trial on a murder charge believes ju- pandemic is over, something Reeves declined recommends that people engage in social
rors could be prejudiced against him if he is do. distancing and wear masks while indoors, of-
forced to wear a mask. "Although the defendant does have constitu- ficials said.
Making the defendant, Carine Reeves, of tional rights, those constitutional rights have to In his motion, Smith pointed to a study by
New York, wear a mask would be problem- be balanced against the health and safety of North Carolina researchers who wrote, "Afri-
atic because masks are often associated all individuals involved this process," she said. can Americans are particularly prone to racial
with crime, his attorney, Stephen Smith, told a Reeves is charged with murder in the 2017 kill- profiling solely due to the fact that they are
Maine judge on Wednesday. ing of Sally Shaw, who was shot in the head wearing masks."
"We're at a particular moment in this nation's and left on the side of a road in Cherryfield. Superior Court Justice Harold Stewart II said
history when having a court force a Black man The trial, scheduled to begin later this month, he would rule on the defendant's motion on
to wear a mask or to be judged by jurors wear- would be among the first to take place in masks within a few days.
ing masks ... is in our view unconstitutional," he Maine since the pandemic reduced court- His trial in Maine initially was delayed while
said. house hours and delayed trials. charges in New York were resolved. Reeves
Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea said Court officials have consulted with the Maine has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for
Reeves could achieve his wish of a mask-free Center for Disease Control and Prevention on two separate assaults in New York.q