Sex Harassment: Time’s Up’s Kaplan resigns; had ties to Cuomo

Roberta Kaplan, the Time’s Up board’s co-chairman has resigned after it was revealed in the report published by the New York Attorney General that Kaplan was involved in reviewing a draft of an op-ed that was going to attack Cuomo’s first accuser Lindsey Boylan.

Kaplan who is a well-known progressive attorney has also been a key person of Time’s Up since its inception after having been founded by Hollywood women during the rise of the #MeToo movement. She also co-founded the organization’s Legal Defense Fund and her name was mentioned in the report that has already resulted in Melissa DeRosa’s resignation.

In the report, it is mentioned that Melissa DeRosa was told by Gov. Cuomo to send the alleged op-ed to Kaplan “The Governor directed Ms. DeRosa to seek input from ‘some of the folks on the team.’ He asked her to send the draft to Roberta Kaplan (an attorney at the firm Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, and now counsel to Ms. DeRosa with respect to our investigation),” paragraph 2 of page 112 said. The same paragraph further states that Melissa DeRosa said Kaplan had read the letter to the head of Time’s Up, and both of them allegedly suggested the letter should go on without mentioning Boylan’s interactions with male colleagues. “According to Ms. DeRosa, Ms. Kaplan read the letter to the head of the advocacy group Time’s Up, and both of them allegedly suggested that, without the statements about Ms. Boylan’s interactions with male colleagues, the letter was fine,” the report says.

Roberta Kaplan’s actions have in one way or another hurt the credibility and professionalism of the people at Time’s Up, and also their cause. The alleged involvement indicates a bias the group has now been exposed of having, after one of their leaders was allegedly caught in helping an alleged suspect while also getting in the input of another leader.

Time’s Up, a charity which raises money for victims of sexual harassment and an organization that promotes gender equality released a statement in response to the alleged revelations.

“We hold ourselves accountable. The events of the last week have made it clear that our process should be evaluated and we intend to do just that. We need more transparency about our vision of change-making, and we need a more inclusive process to engage the broader survivor community, many of whom have spent years doing the noble work of fighting for women,” the statement said. “Robbie Kaplan, board co-chair, has stepped down from the board. We and she agree that is the right and appropriate thing to do,” it further added.

Andrew Cuomo still hasn’t resigned and calls for his impeachment have no reached their limit, with all eyes now on the State Assembly.