NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on the arrest of a former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (all times local):
5:15 p.m.
A judge has ordered former U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Thomas Frieden (FREE’-den) to stay away from a woman he’s accused of groping at his New York home last October.
Frieden appeared stone-faced in court on Friday to face sexual-harassment charges. His lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
He was ordered to refrain from any contact with the woman and to surrender his U.S. passport. He was freed on his own recognizance and is due back in court Oct. 11.
The former New York City health commissioner was taken into court with his hands cuffed behind his back. He didn’t speak to reporters after and left court in an SUV with his attorney.
A statement released earlier for Frieden says the allegation against him “does not reflect” his “public or private behavior or his values.”
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3:30 p.m.
The head of a nonprofit global health organization says he has “full confidence” in the arrested former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Vital Strategies CEO Jose L. Castro issued a statement Friday in support of Dr. Thomas Frieden (FREE’-den), who’s accused of groping a woman’s buttocks at his New York home last October.
Frieden is awaiting a court appearance in connection with the woman’s claim.
Vital Strategies houses a health initiative called Resolve to Save Lives, led by Frieden.
Castro says Frieden informed him in April a longtime family friend had accused him of inappropriate contact, a claim Frieden denies.
Castro says Vital Strategies hired an investigator to interview Resolve to Save Lives employees even though the woman doesn’t work there. He says it found no inappropriate workplace behavior.
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2:15 p.m.
The arrested former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a denial in response to a woman’s allegation he groped her buttocks at his New York home.
A statement released Friday on behalf of Dr. Thomas Frieden (FREE’-den) says the allegation “does not reflect” his “public or private behavior or his values.” It notes his “lifetime of service to improve health around the world.”
Frieden was awaiting a court appearance on Friday in connection with the woman’s claim he groped her buttocks at his Brooklyn home on Oct. 20, 2017. The woman reported it in July, and he was taken into custody after an investigation.
The accuser is a 55-year-old woman who knew Frieden.
Frieden also is a former New York City health commissioner. He’s charged with forcible touching, sex abuse and harassment.
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12:35 p.m.
A former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been arrested in New York on a sex abuse charge.
The New York Police Department says Thomas Frieden (FREE’-den) was arrested on Friday morning in Brooklyn.
WABC says Frieden surrendered to face charges that he grabbed the buttocks of a woman he knew in his home last October. It says she reported it in July.
Frieden also is a former New York City health commissioner and is charged with forcible touching, sex abuse and harassment.
Frieden leads a global health initiative called Resolve to Save Lives. An email sent to a representative for Frieden there hasn’t received a reply.
There’s no information on an attorney who could comment on Frieden’s behalf.
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12:20 p.m.
A former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been arrested in New York on a sex abuse charge.
The New York Police Department says Thomas Frieden (FREE’-den) was arrested on Friday morning in Brooklyn.
WABC says Frieden surrendered to face charges that he grabbed the buttocks of a woman he knew in his home last October. It says she reported it in July.
Frieden also is a former New York City health commissioner and is charged with forcible touching, sex abuse and harassment.
There’s no information on an attorney who could comment on Frieden’s behalf.
An email sent to the place where it’s believed Frieden works hasn’t received a reply.
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