Columbia University Under Investigation for Handling of Sexual Abuse Claims Against Former Gynecologist

New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting a civil investigation into how Columbia University responded to allegations of sexual abuse involving Robert Hadden, a former obstetrician-gynecologist at the university. The investigation focuses on whether the university mishandled complaints and records, and if administrators delayed notifying patients about Hadden’s misconduct.

Investigation Details

The Attorney General’s office confirmed the probe after a ProPublica investigation in the fall of 2023 revealed how Columbia allegedly ignored warnings about Hadden and protected him despite numerous allegations of sexual abuse . The investigation builds upon wider scrutiny of Columbia’s actions dating back to 2012, when Hadden was first arrested on sex crime charges.

Timeline of Events

• 2012: Robert Hadden was arrested on sex crime charges, yet Columbia allowed him to continue seeing patients for weeks after his arrest .
• 2023: Hadden was convicted in federal court of sexually abusing patients and sentenced to 20 years in prison .
• 2023: Columbia committed to reforms, including a $100 million settlement fund for survivors and an independent investigation .
• November 2023: Columbia announced it would send letters to almost 6,500 former patients to notify them of Hadden’s misconduct, shortly before a deadline imposed by the Adult Survivors Act .
• March 7, 2026: The New York Attorney General’s investigation is ongoing, with no final report yet released from the external investigation commissioned by Columbia .

Settlement and Ongoing Concerns

Columbia has established a $100 million settlement fund for survivors and has extended the deadline to file claims to April 15, 2026 . However, advocates, students, and survivors argue that Columbia needs to take further action to address its role in the abuse. Notably, no university administrators have been disciplined or lost their jobs in connection with the scandal.

Survivor Reactions

Survivors have expressed both relief and frustration with the Attorney General’s investigation. Evelyn Yang, a survivor who was assaulted by Hadden while seven months pregnant, stated that accountability is “overdue” . Marissa Hoechstetter emphasized the importance of institutional accountability in addressing gender-based violence.

University Response

Columbia declined to comment on the Attorney General’s investigation. The university has stated that the external investigation into its handling of the Hadden case is still underway and a public report will be issued upon its completion .