Denver Mayor Hancock faces questions about aide he fired

An investigation into alleged sexual harassment that led to the firing of an aide to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock included an audio recording that city officials have refused to release.

The city's decision to withhold the recording came in response to a Denver Post records request.

Wayne McDonald, a longtime friend of Hancock's, was fired last month from his $85,000-a-year job as an appointee after allegations of "serious misconduct" were lodged against him.

Hancock is not on the recording, said Amber Miller, Hancock's press secretary. The administration would not say who is on the recording.

Miller said the "recordings are among the rec-ords that were withheld by the city due to laws that prohibit their release."

The city's attorneys, in denying The Post's request for the recordings, cited a section of state law that prohibits disclosure of "any records of sexual harassment complaints and investigations."

Hancock on Friday morning faced the news media a day after news broke that he had fired McDonald. He said it was tough to do but that the action was in "the best interest of the city."

During his presentation of a proposed tax measure for November's ballot, Hancock faced multiple questions about McDonald.

"I've managed people, and I have never been in a place and space where it is OK to talk publicly about personnel matters," Hancock said. "We had received an accusation, which we looked into immediately, and we acted. I think everything that needed to be said has been said publicly. There really isn't anything more."

The mayor's office on Thursday, responding to an open-records request from The Post, said serious allegations of misconduct were made about McDonald on May 16. The next day, an internal review was conducted, and McDonald was fired May 21.

A female police officer at the center of the investigation was transferred to a new assignment after the allegations surfaced.

Hancock said his administration will be "diligent in protecting the privacy right of Wayne McDonald, as well as the other employee."

McDonald's attorney, Anne Sulton, said in a statement that she hopes journalists continue to search for the truth.

"Mr. McDonald denies being involved in any misconduct," she said. "He is weighing his options as we move forward to clear his name."

Sulton said she will ask the city attorney to "place a litigation hold on all documents, e-mails, tapes, calendars and other materials related to this case." She said she will ask the court next week for an order preserving those materials.

"The public has a right to know what happened, and my client has a right to take actions that will clear his name," she said.

Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com

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