LEGAL/USDA: “The head of the United States Forest Service stepped down Wednesday [3-7-18] amid an investigation into sexual harassment accusations against him, a spokesman for the Agriculture Department said.
The resignation of the agency’s chief, Tony Tooke, comes days after ‘PBS NewsHour’ reported that the Agriculture Department was investigating sexual misconduct complaints against him, including that Mr. Tooke had relationships with subordinates before his appointment to the top role.
According to the department’s spokesman, Mr. Tooke said in an email to his employees that he had been cooperating with the investigation but wanted to ‘make way for a new leader.’… The Agriculture Department investigation was announced immediately after reports of a broad culture of harassment and retaliation at the Forest Service. According to ‘NewsHour,’ interviews with 34 women who have worked for the service revealed widespread misconduct, including several reports of rape.
The nature of the accusations against Mr. Tooke were not clear on Wednesday night… Mr. Perdue appointed Mr. Tooke over the summer; he had been at the agency for several decades. Mr. Tooke wrote in the email to Forest Service staff that his retirement would be effective immediately, the department spokesman said.”
-Emily Baumgaertner, “U.S. Forest Service Chief Resigns Amid Sexual Harassment Accusations,” The New York Times online, Mar. 7, 2018