DeKalb County’s water director has been cleared of all sexual harassment charges.
An independent investigation found no wrongdoing by Watershed Management Director Francis Kung’u, DeKalb Chief Operating Officer Richard Stogner said Tuesday.
The county hired an outside attorney in September to investigate Kung’u after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a DeKalb employee said she was sexually harassed by Kung’u.
“After months of investigation, no evidence in support of the allegations was found. DeKalb County considers this matter closed,” Stogner wrote in a statement to the AJC.
Administrative assistant Angelita McDaniel was terminated in March for “excessive absenteeism.” However, a hearing officer awarded the woman her job back after she testified that she was terminated in retaliation for ending a relationship with Kung’u.
McDaniel told the AJC she went to dinner with Kung’u several times and that he would often kiss her and rub her back in the office.
Kung’u denied the allegations at the time.
This week, he told the AJC that he felt vindicated.
“The truth will always set you free. The allegations that were made were false,” Kung’u said. “I never engaged in any inappropriate relationship with any employee. I maintain every relationship in a professional level.”
McDaniel, who has since been transferred to the county's transportation department, did not return phone calls Wednesday.
McDaniel contacted the AJC after DeKalb terminated Keith Barker as chief operating officer. Barker admitted to having an affair with another administrative assistant in the watershed department.
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