Former CDC Head And NYC Health Commissioner Tom Frieden Arrested For Forcibly Touching Woman
Aug. 24, 2018, 12:12 p.m.
He is accused of grabbing a woman's buttocks against her will inside his Brooklyn Heights residence last year.
Tom Frieden in 2016
Tom Frieden, the former head of the CDC and former commissioner of the NYC Department of Health, has been arrested and charged for allegedly forcibly touching a woman in Brooklyn last year.
An NYPD spokesperson says that Frieden is accused of grabbing a woman's buttocks against her will inside his Brooklyn Heights residence on October 20th last year. The woman, who is reportedly 55, filed a complaint with the police this past July.
#Frieden more - sources say this allegedly occurred at a party Frieden gave at his Bklyn residence - guest was the wife of a couple that had been invited who were friends. #1010WINS
— Juliet Papa (@winsjuliet) August 24, 2018
Frieden surrendered himself to authorities this morning and was charged with forcible touching, sexual abuse and harassment. The Brooklyn D.A.'s office did not yet respond to a request for comment.
In a statement, Frieden said the arrest "does not reflect" his "public or private behavior or his values," while also noting "lifetime of service to improve health around the world."
Frieden served as the commissioner of the New York City Department of Health from 2002 to 2009, spearheading efforts to post nutritional information for foods at restaurants and to reduce smoking. He then led CDC from 2009 to 2017. Since leaving the CDC, he has been acting as president and CEO ofResolve to Save Lives , a global health initiative that "aims to save millions of lives from cardiovascular disease and make the world safer from epidemics." The organization was funded by $225 million donated by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
"CDC has no information on this matter. We refer you to the appropriate law enforcement authorities," a spokesperson told Gothamist.
The Gates Foundation said, "We take allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously. We will be in touch with our grantee Vital Strategies to understand how they are handling this situation." Bloomberg Philanthrophies declined to comment, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has yet to comment.
