Progressive Public Relations Firm Closes Amid Allegations Of Sexual Harassment

FitzGibbon Media suddenly announced it was closing Thursday amid allegations that the group's president sexually harassed female employees.

WASHINGTON -- In a sudden announcement on Thursday, the progressive public relations firm FitzGibbon Media said it would close amid allegations of sexual harassment by the group's president, Trevor FitzGibbon.

The company worked with leading progressive organizations, such as NARAL, the AFL-CIO, the Center for American Progress, and the American Federation of Teachers.

The news was first reported by the Huffington Post Thursday. According to the report, Fitzgibbon "faced multiple accusations of sexual harassment from female employees."

A FitzGibbon employee tweeted similar allegations:

Before you hear any different, @fitzgibbonmedia closed because we would no longer follow the leadership of a serial sexual harasser.

In a statement, Trevor Fitzgibbon denied the allegations:

"It is with tremendous regret that we had to close FitzGibbon Media. Our team was at the helm of many of the most important policy debates of our time. We were the undisputed communications leader for the progressive movement. Although the company is closing, our talents and our mission remain unchanged.

"The allegations against me are a distraction to the mission at hand. In order to do what is best for the company, I took a leave of absence. However, it is abundantly clear that an irreconcilable difference has arisen between the FitzGibbon team and me. We had no choice but to make the difficult decision to close FitzGibbon Media.

"I apologize to my team and our clients for the impact this closing will have on them. I will work to once again regain the trust that was lost."

FitzGibbon Media issued the following statement:

"FitzGibbon Media has enjoyed a long-standing tradition of providing clients with superior communications services. Our team has been at the helm of many of the most important policy debates of our time.

"After much discussion and deliberations, and in consultation with legal counsel, it is with great regret that we have announced our firm is closing.

"The FitzGibbon Media team, in collaboration with the most brilliant strategists across the globe, built an organization of professionals who influence public policy and will surely continue to make a difference where it matters."

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